argument, design,

While the _cause_ of any event, act, or fact, as commonly understood,
is the power that makes it to be, the _reason_ of or for it is the
explanation given by the human mind; but _reason_ is, in popular
language, often used as equivalent to _cause_, especially in the sense
of _final cause_. In the statement of any reasoning, the _argument_ may
be an entire syllogism, or the premises considered together apart from
the conclusion, or in logical strictness the middle term only by which
the particular conclusion is connected with the general statement. But
when the _reasoning_ is not in strict logical form, the middle term
following the conclusion is called the _reason_; thus in the statement
"All tyrants deserve death; Caesar was a tyrant; Therefore Caesar deserved
death," "Caesar was a tyrant" would in the strictest sense be called the
_argument_; but if we say "Caesar deserved death because he was a
tyrant," the latter clause would be termed the _reason_. Compare CAUSE;
REASON, _v._; MIND; REASONING.

Prepositions:

The reason _of_ a thing that is to be explained; the reason _for_ a
thing that is to be done.

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REASONING.

Synonyms:

argument, argumentation, debate, ratiocination.

_Argumentation_ and _debate_, in the ordinary use of the words, suppose
two parties alleging reasons for and against a proposition; the same
idea appears figuratively when we speak of a _debate_ or an _argument_
with oneself, or of a _debate_ between reason and conscience.
_Reasoning_ may be the act of one alone, as it is simply the orderly
setting forth of reasons, whether for the instruction of inquirers, the
confuting of opponents, or the clear establishment of truth for oneself.
_Reasoning_ may be either deductive or inductive. _Argument_ or
_argumentation_ was formerly used of deductive _reasoning_ only. With
the rise of the inductive philosophy these words have come to be applied
to inductive processes also; but while _reasoning_ may be informal or
even (as far as tracing its processes is concerned) unconscious,
_argument_ and _argumentation_ strictly imply logical form. _Reasoning_,
as denoting a process, is a broader term than _reason_ or _argument_;
many _arguments_ or _reasons_ may be included in a single chain of
_reasoning_.

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REBELLIOUS.

Synonyms:

contumacious, mutinous, uncontrollable,
disobe