Questions tagged [reason]
103 questions
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What fallacy is this? “This happened, therefore there must be good reasons for it”
What fallacy is it when someone says "this is true/it happened, therefore there are good reasons for it"?
For example:
We drive on the left (or right, depending on country) side of the
road, therefore there must be a good reason for it.
Assume,…
David Balažic
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What type of fallacy is it when people in undeveloped countries claim something it's true, because developed countries do it?
A fallacy that we hear a lot here in undeveloped countries, and which is so deeply annoying, it's that something is true because the developed countries do it. It's particularly annoying because many times when developed countries make a mistake,…
Pablo
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15
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Is there a name for this fallacy when someone says something is good by only pointing out the good things?
A person says that a politician "Jane Doe" is good because he increased the education budget.
(but in reality, Jane doe is also corrupt & racist, whose bad policies lead to the downfall of the economy of the country)
A person says that the…
Mysterious Jack
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Is there a deduction analog to the problem of induction?
Aren't deductive and inductive reasoning equally unjustified? So, inductive reasoning is going from specifics to general, whilst deductive reasoning is going from general to specific. But in deductive reasoning, surely, forming 'general' opinions or…
Selena Carlos
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9
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Does determinism prevent rationality?
If hard determinism is true, and our thoughts are merely the results of a causal chain of atomic interactions, are reason and logic illusory?
This matter has likely been discussed in another thread, but I couldn't find it. I was led to ask the…
Futilitarian
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Does mathematics always need axioms?
To do mathematics, one obviously needs definitions; but, do we always need axioms?
I was thinking that a statement like
For all prime numbers, there exists a strictly greater prime number.
cannot be demonstrated computationally, because we'd need…
goblin GONE
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Has the “is-ought” problem finally met its match?
In the current online issue of Skeptic magazine, Gary Whittenberger publishes “Meta Ethics: Toward a Universal Ethics — How Science & Reason Can Give Us Objective Moral Truths Without God”. In the course of his argument, he runs up against the “is”…
Mark Andrews
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What is the difference between an excuse and a reason?
I've been told not to use excuses, as per a "set of ethics", that if I gave reason for being late for an appointment, for work, not being a mathematician, etc. But, I don't see a moral difference between giving a reason for doing/ not doing…
Hydra119
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Epistemic circularity and skepticism about reason
Disclaimer: I'm not a philosopher and I'm not a native speaker, so apologies if my question is somehow flawed as a result. I'm happy to clarify anything that is unclear. So here it is:
Reason's own standards of justification require that any claim…
Numa
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What is "Nothing"?
What is "nothing" and how can a Universe be entirely created out of "nothing"? The moment we give "nothing" a description or definition, it becomes something. The absolute state of nothingness, by its own "definition", does not exist and cannot…
NamesLano
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4
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Gradations of epistemological categories
For my philosophy discussion group, I am looking for real life examples that would fit the above illustration. What would be some good examples?
Data is a collection of facts, while information puts those facts into context. While data is raw and…
blackened
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4
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Why do I doubt my logical reasoning?
I have been wondering for several years why I just can't trust my own proofs in math or when giving some logical arguments. I keep thinking I might be making a mistake at some step of the proof and then I doubt every step.
After reading a bit of…
Turkhan Badalov
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4
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4 answers
Can a reason cost 5 dollars?
Imagine a school where no one can wear a red hat. John goes to school with a red hat costing 5 dollars. Someone says John's red hat "is" the reason why he can't get into the school.
What is the function of "is" here? Can we say the reason that John…
ado sar
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4
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Is there a name for the idea of inherent bias in an authority figure or expert?
We often appeal to experts and authorities due to the usefulness of their acquired knowledge, and a lot of the time, this is a fairly sensible thing to do.
However, very often, I feel like there is a certain bias that is being introduced whenever…
JaneDo
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Faith versus Reason
I am looking for books on the discussion of terms and concepts like reason, faith, instinct, evidence, confidence, justification, etc. But especially reason versus faith. I not looking for science versus religion type books. I would like to see…
blackened
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