What Is Reason?
Reason is thinking that does not contradict itself. It is the tool that allows us to discern reality and avoid error. While mistakes can occur in reasoning, the goal is to reason correctly, since reason is the foundation of knowledge.
Reason can be understood through the three classical Laws of Thought, as Aristotle identifies:
Law of Identity: A is A.
Law of Non-Contradiction: A thing cannot be both A and not-A in the same sense at the same time.
Law of the Excluded Middle: Everything is either A or not-A.
The second and third laws are essentially restatements of the first; the Law of Identity underlies all reasoning. If A is A and not non-A, then it follows that everything must be either A or not-A.
Our senses provide the foundation for reason by confirming the reality of what we perceive. For instance, sight cannot perceive an invisible dog. Reason itself is a kind of perception: it detects what is real and what is true, both in itself and relative to us. Those who deceive or mislead us oppose our perception and, ultimately, ourselves, because consciousness itself is perception. To undermine perception is to undermine oneself.
Faith, in contrast, is trust in another based on evidence of their reliability. Some claim that rationality is opposed to faith. True faith, if it ignores new evidence or resists doubt, becomes anti-reason. The only acceptable form of faith is faith in reason itself—trusting reason to lead us toward truth.
Reason and Autonomy
Reason is often said to make us autonomous. While the faculty of reason is independent, the truths it discovers are not subject to our will. If 1 + 1 = 2, recognizing this is not a matter of autonomy; it is simply seeing reality as it is. Autonomy in reasoning requires careful assumptions; false assumptions lead to false conclusions.
I Can Prove Reason
It is sometimes argued that reason itself requires blind faith, since it cannot prove itself without assuming its validity. This is mistaken. Reason is self-evident in the way perception is: we cannot stop perceiving, and we trust our senses because they are consistently reliable. Reason functions similarly—it is our tool for detecting what is real. To call belief in reason "blind faith" is as absurd as calling belief in sight or hearing blind faith.
Critics may call the statement "reason is valid because it validates itself" circular. Yet this form of reasoning is unique: it is not arbitrary. Experience shows that we exist and can reason; this provides the self-verification that ordinary circular arguments lack. Unlike other circular arguments (e.g., "God exists because the Bible says so, and the Bible is right because God exists"), the self-verification of reason is grounded in direct experience and cannot reasonably be denied.
Even if reasoned conclusions are expressed in words, the truth is in the perception itself, not the language. The statement "A is A" is not true simply because of language; it is true because non-A is impossible in the context of experience. Reason allows us to infer truths about the world based on this foundation, whether by observation, deduction, or process of elimination.
Reason Reigns Supreme
Rationalism—the view that reason is the ultimate arbiter of truth—is opposed by empiricism, pragmatism, and the coherence theory of truth.
Empiricism claims that truth is derived from the senses. Yet the laws of reason underlie the interpretation of sensory input. Accepting empiricism without rational foundations is incoherent; reason must come first.
Pragmatism defines truth as what works. But truth is independent of practical usefulness; reason is needed to determine what is genuinely practical. Pragmatism relies on logic even as it claims to ignore it.
Coherence theory claims that truth is what fits consistently into a system. Yet coherence alone does not guarantee reality. A belief system can be internally consistent but still false. Only reason can distinguish truth from fiction.
Reason, not practicality or coherence, remains the most reliable tool for understanding reality. While evidence can be deceptive or misleading, reason allows us to evaluate claims systematically and avoid error.
Reason and God
Some argue that reason is unreliable unless God guarantees it. Yet this is unnecessary. Using reason to validate God’s existence is circular: it is reason itself, not faith in God, that ensures reliability. Reason can function as a "sense" of contradictions and consistency, just as sight functions to detect colors and shapes. Even if reason were a product of chance, it would still reliably reveal patterns and contradictions.
Does Reason Abolish Itself?
Some claim reason is invalid because it depends on other reasons. Yet the initial reasons we accept are self-evident and reasonable. Even if our reasoning were somehow illusory, it remains unreasonable to abandon it—our perceptions and thoughts are real experiences, and reasoning about them is unavoidable. Attempting to deny reason is self-contradictory, since doing so requires reason itself.
Reason and Human Dignity
Reason is the defining characteristic of humanity. It allows us to judge, deliberate, and act ethically. Unlike other animals, humans are accountable to rational principles and cannot be treated as mere objects.
Contradiction
Contradiction occurs when two statements cannot both be true in the same sense. For example, if Mary is bald, she cannot simultaneously have hair.
A contrary differs: if Mary is not bald, countless variations are possible—she may have one, two, or many hairs. Contradiction and contrariety are essential concepts for clear reasoning.
Conclusion
Exalt reason in your life. Every decision, belief, and judgment relies on reason in some form. Reason is not mere belief; it is a commitment to evaluate claims based on evidence, coherence, and experience. A reason alone does not justify belief; it must be strong, well-explained, and grounded in reality.
Reason is unavoidable, foundational, and indispensable. Use it wisely, consistently, and rigorously. Let it guide your search for truth, your understanding of the world, and your respect for human dignity. Reason must reign supreme.