Reasoning
This is the current revision of Reasoning as edited by Conservative (talk | contribs) at 23:47, August 5, 2025. This URL is a permanent link to this version of this page.
Reasoning is the human effort to organize concrete facts and abstract logical principles in an effort to arrive at reliable conclusions. Reasoning can either be good or poor.
Types of reasoning include:
- Deductive reasoning: Reasoning by which an individual seeks to test or demonstrate the truth of a proposition by establishing premises, and organizing them into a syllogism;
- Inductive reasoning: Reasoning by which an individual observes facts about the physical universe, and infers that because something is always observed to be true, it is always true;
- Abductive reasoning: Reasoning by which a person collects facts, seeks to develop the most reasonable explanation for the facts, and concludes that the explanation is likely true
- Logical reasoning is a form of rational thinking that focuses on drawing conclusions from information using structural thinking and a rigorous approach. It involves analyzing premises and assumptions to see if they sufficently support a conclusion and ensuring the conclusion is reasonable based on the given evidence.
- Evidence-based thinking: Evidence-based thinking is a mental process that uses the best available evidence to make sound decisions. It uses inferences to the best explanations.
- Critical thinking: Critical thinking is an approach to gathering data and making inferences about the world. It draws heavily on ideas from the scientific revolution and advocates an approach of data acquisition and rational assessment.
- Circular reasoning: Faulty reasoning by which a person makes an argument for the truth of a proposition which depends on the truth of the proposition it attempts to prove;
- Logical fallacy: Other types of faulty reasoning;
Evidence-based thinking
See also: Evidence-based thinking
Evidence-based thinking is a mental process that uses the best available evidence to make sound decisions. It uses inferences to the best explanations. It is often used in many fields, including science, engineering, healthcare, education, and business.