Helpful Links for REASON

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Link (use the Insert Link button in the Editor toolbar, choose "External Link.") This will be followed by a proper MLA citation. Use of online generators such ascitationmachine.net is acceptable.
  • Your reason for including this link. You might consider the following questions: How did you find it? Why did you find it helpful? What concerns might you have about this link? (Your name goes in parenthesis at the end of the bullet point.) (With name)
  • A review from one other student. (With name)


HELPFUL LINKS FOR REASONWhat is Logic? Lau, J. and J. Chan. "TUTORIAL L01: What is logic?." Module: Basic logic. University of Hong Kong, Philosophy Department, 2004. Web. 24 Nov 2010. <http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/logic/whatislogic.php>.

  • This link comes from the University of Hong Kong. I think the language is at a good introductory level, but there might be a few examples of tough vocabulary. All in all, though, this is a great overview that is both condensed and in depth at the same time. I often show some of this site in class. (Wall)
  • There is also a sub-page in the same website that is very good, focusing on the fallacies we will be exploring (and including many more.) Go to http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/fallacy/ or click on the "Fallacies and Biases" link in the sidebar of the home page, above. (Wall)

"Mathematical Logic and Reasoning." Responsible Thinking: Principles. Responsible Thinking, 25 04 2010. Web. 27 Nov 2010. <http://www.truthpizza.org/logic/reason.htm>.
  • I was wondering if there is any types of reasoning we use in our normal life time. So I searched different kinds of reasoning and found mathmatical reasoning that we use. This is type of deductive reasoning. We go through a thinking process of a -> b, b -> c, a ->c, This link, first describes about the specific mathematical reasoning and explains the mathematical reasoning that we use in our lives. I found this helpful because it is very easy to understand with easy vocabulary and simple examples. Additionally, I personally think, most of the reasonings that we use in our lives are deductive reasoning which is mathematical reasoning. (Chae Young)


Reasoning by Rick Garlikov June 6, 2000 http://www.akat.com/reasoning.htm

  • I think reason is a components of experiences and knowledge that we have encounter in our past. To support my idea of reason, the website I linked would help a lot. The website is talking about basic of reason but it also gives some examples so it is easy to understand. (Kiyo )
  • I agree with Kiyo, I don't think you can reason without having knowledge and experience. And the site was helpful to reorganize my thoughts.(albert)

Reasoning

  • "Reason." Reason n. pag. Web. 3 Jan 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason>.
  • Everybody knows wikipedia, and this particular article provides a lot of information on all types of reasoning. I included this link because I thought that the article was very enlightening on the topics of deductive and inductive reasoning. The link also includes a large number of other types of reasoning, as well as information on behavioural experiments performed on humans. Since no one else checked Wikipedia, I thought it might be a good idea to include this. (Gerard)


Religion and Reason "Religious And Skeptics Not All That Different, Reasoning Wise, Says Neuroimaging Study." Science 2.0. Scientific Blogging, 5th October 2009. Web. 2 Dec 2010. <http://www.science20.com/news_articles/religious_and_skeptics_not_all_different_reasoning_wise_says_neuroimaging_study>.
  • This site is interesting as it puts religious thought and basic reasoning side by side, observing trends in the brain. So, I quote, "believing in God or believing the sun is a star takes the same belief, or suspension of disbelief, at the brain level." I thought that knowing how reason and basic thought mechanisms functioned would be an interesting way to investigate further into the realm of reason. I thought it was helpful to know that believing or disbelieving statements trasncends the content it involves! I found this site using Google search engine; one concern may be that it is a blog for scientists, and that itisn't the original source of information. The original source is a little more complex in its layout, content etc, which is why I chose to present this link (Quentin).

Reason, Logic, and Secularism "Reason." Web. <http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/knowledge-reason.html>.
  • The link has a thorough overview of Western reason system, and under the definition of reason as the faculty that enables humans to gain objective knowledge by organizing information from their senses into concepts according to the laws of logic, it discusses the topic from a variety of perspectives. I personally enjoyed reading the writing as most of them are associated with cultural aspects. (Shawn)
  • It was very interesting to read about the different types of reasoning. Also it was especially very interesting to read about the human's use of logic and reasoning in order to survive of the human existence. It was also interesting to read about the supernatural mean of knowledge, mysticism of humans. From this link, I was able to learn about different reasoning and logics in cultural aspects and use of logic and reasoning of human in the means of survival. (Chae Young)

Reason- Ayn Rand Peikoff, Leonard. "Reason- Ayn Rand." The Ayn Rand Library. Ayn Rand Institute, 1986. Web. 5 Dec 2010. <http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/reason.html>.
  • A lexicon of Ayn Rand's view of reason. She emphasized that reason stands in sharp oppositions to morality, and only the people with rationality and self-centered-ness deserve to live. This seemingly illogical argument is more clearly explained in her novels, but I have to admit that I was tempted to rip the book because her statement "Whatever is good for you should, you are justified to do it" still made no logical appeal to me. (Shawn)
  • Rand really is controversial...I think that she is a bit too extreme in her views on reason and it being the "only tool of knowledge," but I have to admit that she does have a point. Reason is very important to us, and we do use it a lot of the time. However, I think (since I read the book) that she is being a bit too fictitious in her book, thinking up a utopia that is almost impossible to achieve. (Edward)
  • Because I have done many reading about Ayn Rand's book, I can tell that Ayn Rand is a bit too extreme. Although I agree with her opinions up to some point, Ayn Rand's views are too extreme to agree completely. In the link that Shawn posted, Ayn Rand gives multiple supporting reasons for her opinions. However, all of these reasons seem too strict and prohibiting too much of other people's actions and behaviors.

"Types of Reasoning." Changing Minds and Persuasion -- How We Change What Others Think, Believe, Feel and Do. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/types_reasoning.htm.
  • This lists differen kinds of reasoning. We learned that there are mainly deductive and inductive reasoning. Other than those two reasonings, there are numerous kinds of reasonings as well. I was amazed that our reasonings could be categorize again into a lot of different categories other than inductive and deductive reasonings. These reasonings that are listed in the site are mostly reasonings that use examples, hypothesis (what if?), comparisons, possitiblity of something occuring, and etc. These are all the types of reasonings that we use in our lives in order to make decisions. (Chae Young Moon)
  • Some of the types are rather familiar, but others are pretty fresh and interesting. I didn't expect this kind of website, with all those terms listed in clear and orderly manner...nice.(Shawn)Oh and Merry X'mas...
  • We learned in class that there are deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and lateral reasoning, but when I saw this website, I was surprised about the numerous types of reasoning that exist. I am sure that these categories can be divided into even specific types of reasoning, creating an astonishing amount of types of reasoning. I can't believe we use a lot of these in everyday life. (Nari)

Reason Is Absolute Rowlands, Joseph. "Reason ." Reason Is Absolute . Copyright © 2001 by Jeff Landauer and Joseph Rowlands, 2001. Web. 6 Dec 2010. <http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/Epistemology_Reason.html>.
  • After ten minutes of getting nothing but college text-book offers on philosophy, I finally stumbled onto a site that looked appropriate and relevant. The site is an amalgamation of of "the 5 branches of philosophy." Under the subheading "epistemology," I found sub-subheading (?) reading "reason." Straight up, I noticed that the content was easy to follow, and fathomable. I for one thinks the source is reliable. The first three paragraphs talk about reason in particular. The following two paragraphs talk about reason, in relation to knowledge. Indeed, "knowledge is lucid and can only be formed by the use of reason." "There is no other path. Reason is absolute." (Harry O'Sullivan)
  • This is a very good website, although it is quite one sided, as the audience is left with the idea that there can only be reason, and that any knowledge gained otherwise is false. This is discounting religion and our own inner feelings, and therefore this websites ideas cannot be taken without a grain of salt. (Gerard)


Algebraic Reasoning "Algebraic Reasoning." Math Playground. Groundworks, n.d. Web. 24 Dec 2010. http://www.mathplayground.com/algebraic_reasoning.html.
  • We use reasoning in a variety of situations, and math is no exception. This site poses math questions which require reasoning in order to solve them, and should be a good exercise for both math and for understanding reason in a more simple way. (Edward Cannell)
  • I liked this site as it allowed me to think outside the box, the box of what we've already learned. It helped me realize there are many types of reasoning other than those studied in class. With a simple animation and a choice of levels, I really explored algebraic reasoning with ease. Also, looking at a TOK topic from a mathematical point of view can be interesting, as it blends two things that you'd think don't go together, but actually join hand in hand (Quentin).
  • I think that this website is really interesting because even if you are excellent mathematician, you need to understand the situation created in the problems and then use the math skills. I also agree that this website gives a simple way of understanding "reason". (Taku)

What is Deductive Reasoning? Elizabeth, Mary. "What is Deductive Reasoning?." wiseGEEK. N.p., 18 Oct 2010. Web. 24 Dec 2010. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-deductive-reasoning.htm.
  • This site provides us with easy-to-understand definitions of deductive reasoning (as well as other forms of reasoning), giving example statements for us to follow. Looking at this site, I realized that we use reasoning all the time without even knowing it. (Edward Cannell)
  • I thought the same thing too, we seem to use different types of reasoning without even knowing or realizing that we have used reasoning to get to an answer! (Sean)

Pros versus. Cons "Pros-vs-cons reasoning." Changing Minds. Syque, 2002. Web. 24 Dec 2010. <http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/pro-con.htm>.
  • Most of us have probably already visited this site, but I think it's worth listing despite not being able to find an author name for example. It provides an easy to follow explanation of Pros versus Cons, which is obviously, another form of reasoning. MOreover, this site provides other explanations of other types of reasoning, which is quite the helpful tool. Dividing the explanation into 3 categories- description, example, discussion - we receive a complete overview of the presented subject (Quentin).
  • Perhaps I should start using this technique of complimenting first, then refuting to the statements. I also found the comparative reasoning useful, since I see a lot of people making this mistake...Merci beacoup, joyeux noel, viva TOK.

The Limits of Human Reasoning Jellinghaus, Rob. "Deep Human Nature." Unreal Enterprises. N.p., 16/08/1995. Web. 25 Dec 2010.

  • This website provides a profound observation of limits of our reasoning as we are not innately suited to think about dangers that are years in the future. Then the author further discusses who we truly are, an interesting topic to peruse.(Shawn)
  • MERRY CHRISTMAS
  • I personally liked this site as I also researched about the limits of human reasoning. I liked the part how the author defines our nature and the shape of our instinct (survival, silence, death, etc). The conclusion about how we should redeem ourselves was also very impressive. (Soo Hyung)

"Diversity, Opinions, and Absolute Truth." Let's Adore Jesus-Eucharist!. http://www.inquisition.ca, 2006. Web. 25 Dec 2010. <http://www.inquisition.ca/en/philo/artic/verite_absolue.htm>.
  • This is a site that I found while researching about what "absolute truth" is. This page argues about how reasoning could be used to find out the absolute truth. Since we have an ongoing discussion about absolute truth also in the discussion topics, I thought this link could be helpful. I found this site interesting because the author of this document gives logical supports for the existence of absolute truth. (Jangho Seo)

logic test Beckley, Colin. "logic test." arm-chair logic. N.p. , 2004. Web. 3 Jan 2011. <http://www.think-logically.co.uk/lt.htm>.
  • This site is like a continuation of what we did during class. You can test your logic by answering valid or invalid to a number of questions. There are two logic tests and answers and explanations will come out when you finish. I went over this test and wasn't overwhelmingly successful but you should try it out and see how you do. (Nari)

Non-Verbal Reasoning Test Woodcock, Bruce. "Non-Verbal Reasoning Test." Psychometric Tests. University of Kent, n.d. Web. 3 Jan 2011. <http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/spatialtest.htm>
  • This site is another site that has reasoning tests and this particular test is the non-verbal reasoning test, which is commonly used by employers when they recruit people due to the fact that there is no language abilities involved. On the left hand side, there are a lot more reasoning tests including numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, verbal reasoning, etc. I've tried some of these and they are worth the time. They are fun "brain-using" websites. (Nari)
  • I took the first test on this website and it was not easy. I enjoyed using my brain to attempt to get a good score. Great link! (Aaron)

Critical Thinking and Pedagogy"Critical THinking and Pedagogy ." 2003 (2003): 1. National University of Singapore. Web. 2 Jan 2011. <http://www.cdtl.nus.edu.sg/ctp/reasoning.htm>.
  • This site gives us a very down-to-earth definition of reasoning. It states that "reasoning is the process of making inferences from a body of information." It also goes on to provide an example of this by using a spider. The content is very clear and easy to fathom, and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to explore the very core of reasoning. (Harry)
Casual Reasoning Garth, Kemerling. "Casual Reasoning." Reason (2001): n. pag. Web. 3 Jan 2011. <http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e14.htm>.
  • This site is very informative on how we create relationships between certain things when we use inductive reasoning. This contains good examples and gives you a theory by John Mill on his 5 canons to reasoning, which generally make use of relationships, and are an interesting read. I included this link because I found the article informative on the subject of inductive reasoning and because more theories always help. i found this link using Google. This article is very scientifically written, so I believe there is little bias in this link. (Gerard)


Eliminate Faulty Reasoning Lorcher, Trent. "Types of Reasoning: Faulty Reasoning and Logical Fallacies." Find Health, Education, Science & Technology Articles, Reviews, How-To and Tech Tips At Bright Hub - Apply To Be A Writer Today! SForsyth, 15 Nov. 2009. Web. 04 Jan. 2011. http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/25583.aspx

  • This site gives simple and clear definitions for types of reason. The content is clear and there are many understable examples for us to understand the 'reason' more easily. There are many different situations, so that people won't confuse with some similar terms. (Soo Hyung)



Limits of Human Reasons Wayne, Israel. "Limits of Human Reason." Worldview Weekend with Brannon Howse. 5 Jan. 2008. Web. 04 Jan. 2011. http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=3456.

  • This site shows how human reasonings can be easily refuted or contradicted. The author talks about flaws and defects of human reasoning. The author mainly talks about what 'neutral fact' is, then combining those information with examples of fossil, God, etc. It's very easy for us to understand. (Soo Hyung)


Types of ReasoningStraker, David. "Types of reasoning." Changing Minds. changingminds.org, 30 09 2003. Web. 5 Jan 2011. <http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/types_reasoning.htm>.
  • This site gives a list of some different types of reasoning that we may not be accustomed to. For instance, I never had heard of Modal Reasoning, a type of reasoning where things are described in terms of possibility. An example would be, "The door might be open" instead of "The door is open". (Sean)

Exemplar ReasoningStraker, David. "Exemplar Reasoning." Changing Minds. changingminds.org, 30 09 2003. Web. 5 Jan 2011. <http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/types_reasoning/exemplar.htm>.
  • I found this type of reasoning very "usable", as I felt that Exemplar Reasoning, a type of reasoning using examples, was a way of reasoning that I use very often myself. Many people use this type of reasoning, using examples from prior knowlege or experiences to expand and reason on a new topic. (Sean)



Reason, Logic, and Secularism Western Culture Global"Reason." Web. http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/knowledge-reason.html.
I thought tis link would be helpful because, mostly it is easy to read. This link talks about "reasons" which is divided into sections that makes the readers to understand easily, and quickly get to what they are looking for. Also the link relates reason to historical events, and it describes how people have "reasoned" during those times. (albert)

Scientific reasoning Archie, John "Scientific Reasoning" http://philosophy.lander.edu/scireas/links.html
This link talks about scientific reasning. The good thing about this link is its simplicity. Paragraphs are short and decent, and there are lots of underlined words that could reach you to another helpful link. At the top it also gives you different topics that could also be helpful for the TOK class. (albert)

Logical Reasoning "Rohan Academic Computing" 3. Jan 2011 < http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rfreeman/reason.html >
  • I found this website while searching on the internet. I feel it is a good website to help with reasoning because the information is at our level. By this I mean it is not too difficult: but it also is not too easy. The website also is designed well to make it easy to find the information you are looking for. Overall, I feel this is a good website to reference to if your idea about reasoning is unclear. (Aaron)

"Constructing a Logical Argument" Virtual School Distributed Learning Community . Brad Cox, 2004. Web. 3 Jan 2011. < http://www.virtualschool.edu/mon/SocialConstruction/Logic.html >.
  • This site shows that logical reasoning can be used in arguments in everyday life such as, every event has a cause (premise) The universe has a beginning (premise) All beginnings involve an event (premise) This implies that the beginning of the universe involved an event (inference) Therefore the universe has a cause (inference and conclusion). This is very similar to the work we have been doing in class. I feel this is a good website because it teaches how to give a proper logical argument. (Aaron)

"Quotations about Logic ." The Quote Garden. N.p., 09 Sep 2010. Web. 11 Jan 2011. <http://www.quotegarden.com/logic.html>.
  • This website gives several quotes about logic and reason. The quote that I got interested is by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. "Reason means truth and those who are not governed by it take the chance that someday the sunken fact will rip the bottom out of their boat." Reason always tell the truth and they are necessary for the humans to live. (Taku)

"Why study philosophy?." pathways. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2011. <http://www.philosophypathways.com/guide/why.html>.
  • I chose this website because it shows how the reasons are closely related to knowledge and it takes important part in philosophy. "Every branch of knowledge depends upon rational thinking, but philosophy is unique in that the application of reason and logic becomes the very source of knowledge." I agree that reason and logic are the source of the knowledge because without reasoning, you cannot know anything. This website also describes how you benefit from studying philosophy; therefore, it might be interesting for people who do not care about philosophies. (Taku)