Lesson plan
Reason (argument)
In general terms, a reason is a consideration in an argument that justifies or explains an action, belief, attitude, or fact. A reason, in many cases, is brought up by the question "why?" and is answered following the word because. Additionally, words and phrases such as since, due to, as, a result of, considering (that), and in order (to), for example, all serve as explanatory locutions that precede the reason to which they refer. Normative reasons are appealed to when arguments are made about what one should do or believe. For example, that a doctor's patient is grimacing is a reason to believe that the patient is in pain. That the patient is in pain is a reason for the doctor to take action to alleviate this pain. Explanatory reasons are explanations of why things happened. For example, the reason that the patient is in pain is that their nerves are sending signals from their tissues to their brain.
Article summary
In general terms, a reason is a consideration in an argument that justifies or explains an action, belief, attitude, or fact. A reason, in many cases, is brought up by the question "why?" and is answered following the word because. Additionally, words and phrases such as since, due to, as, a result of, considering (that), and in order (to), for example, all serve as explanatory locutions that precede the reason to which they refer. Normative reasons are appealed to when arguments are made about what one should do or believe. For example, that a doctor's patient is grimacing is a reason to believe that the patient is in pain. That the patient is in pain is a reason for the doctor to take action to alleviate this pain. Explanatory reasons are explanations of why things happened. For example, the reason that the patient is in pain is that their nerves are sending signals from their tissues to their brain.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.