mere reason

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mere reason" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is based solely on rational thought without any emotional or external influences. Example: "His decision was based on mere reason, devoid of any personal feelings or biases."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

SPACE flight defies mere reason.

The Economist

Mere reason is insufficient to convince us of its veracity.

The Guardian - Opinion

But above all by knowing that mere reason, essential though it is, is only half of the business of reaching momentous decisions.

The Economist

Along with many others, the cognitive psychologists Paul Slovic of the University of Oregon and Baruch Fischhoff of Carnegie Mellon University have identified several reasons something might feel more or less scary than mere reason might suppose.

The New York Times

Even charlatanism is preferable to logic and mere reason: in "The Ballad of Peckham Rye" (1960), on the surface a romantic farce involving factory workers in the new British welfare state, Spark has the double-dealing, second-sighted Dougal Douglas tell the reader, plausibly, that "vision... is the first requisite of sanity".

The New Yorker

We're not as original as we like to think we are as a species, and vastly different people will arrive at the same joke for the mere reason that our brains really don't work all that different from each other; especially when comedians are coming to a piece of material with the same cultural influences and experiences.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

In the Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason Kant discusses the development of an "ethical commonwealth" in which human beings strengthen one another's moral resolve through their participation in the moral community of a church.

SEP

The recent work carried out at the School of Mathematics proves that interventions on modern buildings are mostly insensitive to their true significance and are often carried out in extreme urgency for mere practical reasons, if not for political opportunities.

Frontiers of Architectural Research

These conditions demonstrate that use of the noisy-OR model for mere pragmatic reasons is sometimes warranted, even when the model's underlying assumptions are not met in reality.

International Journal of Approximate Reasoning

He rejected Avicenna's distinction between essence and existence and Aristotle's distinction between substance and accidents, possibility and actuality, and matter and form on the ground that they are mere distinctions of reason.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Thus, when a substance acquires a new relation without undergoing any real change this is often explained by saying that the substance acquired a mere relation of reason.[37] Finally, some medieval philosophers use relations of reason to identify a sense in which God can have accidents after all.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mere reason" when you want to emphasize that a decision or conclusion is based solely on rational thought, without influence from emotions, intuition, or external factors.

Common error

Avoid presenting "mere reason" as the only valid approach to decision-making. Acknowledge that in many real-world situations, emotions, experience, and ethical considerations are also essential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mere reason" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a concept, referring to the use of logic and rationality as the sole basis for thought or action. Ludwig AI agrees that the expression is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mere reason" is a noun phrase emphasizing decisions or conclusions derived solely from logic, devoid of emotional or external influences. While grammatically sound and usable as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its frequency is uncommon. It often appears in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts. When using "mere reason", consider whether relying exclusively on logic is appropriate for the situation, or if emotions and ethical considerations should also play a role. Alternatives like "pure logic" or "simple rationality" offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simple rationality

Emphasizes the straightforward and uncomplicated aspect of reasoning.

pure logic

Highlights the absence of emotion or bias in the reasoning process.

basic reasoning

Focuses on the fundamental nature of the rational thought involved.

sheer rationality

Stresses the unmixed and absolute quality of the reasoning.

plain logic

Highlights clarity and lack of complexity in reasoning.

unadorned reason

Suggests reasoning that is not embellished or complicated.

elementary reasoning

Implies a basic or introductory level of rational thought.

fundamental logic

Emphasizes the foundational aspect of the rational process.

bare logic

Highlights the essential and unsupplemented nature of the rational process.

unalloyed reason

Suggests reasoning is pure and without contamination from other sources.

FAQs

How can I use "mere reason" in a sentence?

You can use "mere reason" to highlight that a decision is based only on logic, without emotions. For example: "The judge's decision was based on "mere reason", disregarding the emotional pleas of the defendant."

What is a good substitute for "mere reason"?

Alternatives to "mere reason" include "pure logic", "simple rationality", or "basic reasoning", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to make decisions based on "mere reason" or emotion?

The best approach depends on the situation. While "mere reason" can provide objective and logical conclusions, incorporating emotions and ethical considerations often leads to more well-rounded and empathetic decisions.

What does Kant mean by "Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason"?

Kant's "Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason" explores how religious concepts can be understood and interpreted through the lens of moral reasoning and rational principles.