ratiocination
/,rætiɔsi'neiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Logical and methodical reasoning: The process of thinking or reasoning in a logical, step-by-step manner.
- A conclusion reached by such reasoning: The proposition or result that is arrived at through logical deduction.
Usage
- Ratiocination is a formal term used primarily in academic, philosophical, or literary contexts to describe rigorous logical thought. It emphasizes a structured, deductive process rather than intuitive or emotional thinking.
Examples
- The detective's brilliant ratiocination solved the complex case where others saw only chaos.
- Philosophical arguments often depend on careful ratiocination from established principles.
- Her paper was a masterpiece of ratiocination, clearly deriving its conclusions from the initial axioms.
Advanced Usage
- "A chain of ratiocination": A connected series of logical deductions.
- The theorem's proof was a long and intricate chain of ratiocination.
- "To engage in ratiocination": To undertake a process of logical reasoning.
- The panel was asked to engage in pure ratiocination, setting aside all personal bias.
Variants and Related Words
- Ratiocinate (verb): To reason methodically and logically.
- He would ratiocinate for hours on the smallest details of the problem.
- Ratiocinative (adjective): Characterized by or skilled in logical reasoning.
- Her ratiocinative abilities made her an excellent chess player.
Synonyms
- Deduction: Reasoning from general principles to a specific conclusion.
- Reasoning: The process of thinking about something in a logical way.
- Inference: A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.
Antonyms
- Irrationality: The quality of being illogical or not based on reason.
- Intuition: Understanding or knowing something without conscious reasoning.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "A triumph of ratiocination": Used to praise a conclusion or solution achieved through exceptional logical reasoning.
- The scientific breakthrough was hailed as a triumph of ratiocination over speculation.
Noun
- logical and methodical reasoning
- the proposition arrived at by logical reasoning (such as the proposition that must follow from the major and minor premises of a syllogism)