Logic vs. Reason

Published: 21 Apr, 2018

Main Difference

The main difference between Logic and Reason is that the Logic is a study of inference and demonstration and Reason is a capacity for consciously making sense of things.

Logic

Logic (from the Ancient Greek: λογική, translit. logikḗ), originally meaning "the word" or "what is spoken", but coming to mean "thought" or "reason", is generally held to consist of the systematic study of the form of valid inference. A valid inference is one where there is a specific relation of logical support between the assumptions of the inference and its conclusion. (In ordinary discourse, inferences may be signified by words like therefore, hence, ergo and so on.)
There is no universal agreement as to the exact scope and subject matter of logic (see § Rival conceptions, below), but it has traditionally included the classification of arguments, the systematic exposition of the 'logical form' common to all valid arguments, the study of inference, including fallacies, and the study of semantics, including paradoxes. Historically, logic has been studied in philosophy (since ancient times) and mathematics (since the mid-19th century), and recently logic has been studied in computer science, linguistics, psychology, and other fields.
Reason

Reason is the capacity for consciously making sense of things, establishing and verifying facts, applying logic, and changing or justifying practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing information. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, mathematics, and art and is normally considered to be a distinguishing ability possessed by humans. Reason, or an aspect of it, is sometimes referred to as rationality.
Reasoning is associated with thinking, cognition, and intellect. The philosophical field of logic studies ways in which humans reason formally through argument. Reasoning may be subdivided into forms of logical reasoning (forms associated with the strict sense): deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, abductive reasoning; and other modes of reasoning considered more informal, such as intuitive reasoning and verbal reasoning. Along these lines, a distinction is often drawn between logical, discursive reasoning (reason proper), and intuitive reasoning, in which the reasoning process through intuition—however valid—may tend toward the personal and the subjectively opaque. In some social and political settings logical and intuitive modes of reasoning may clash, while in other contexts intuition and formal reason are seen as complementary rather than adversarial. For example, in mathematics, intuition is often necessary for the creative processes involved with arriving at a formal proof, arguably the most difficult of formal reasoning tasks.
Reasoning, like habit or intuition, is one of the ways by which thinking comes from one idea to a related idea. For example, reasoning is the means by which rational individuals understand sensory information from their environments, or conceptualize abstract dichotomies such as cause and effect, truth and falsehood, or ideas regarding notions of good or bad. Reasoning, as a part of executive decision making, is also closely identified with the ability to self-consciously change, in terms of goals, beliefs, attitudes, traditions, and institutions, and therefore with the capacity for freedom and self-determination.
In contrast to the use of "reason" as an abstract noun, a reason is a consideration given which either explains or justifies events, phenomena, or behavior. Reasons justify decisions, reasons support explanations of natural phenomena; reasons can be given to explain the actions (conduct) of individuals.
Using reason, or reasoning, can also be described more plainly as providing good, or the best, reasons. For example, when evaluating a moral decision, "morality is, at the very least, the effort to guide one's conduct by reason--that is, doing what there are the best reasons for doing--while giving equal [and impartial] weight to the interests of all those affected by what one does."
Psychologists and cognitive scientists have attempted to study and explain how people reason, e.g. which cognitive and neural processes are engaged, and how cultural factors affect the inferences that people draw. The field of automated reasoning studies how reasoning may or may not be modeled computationally. Animal psychology considers the question of whether animals other than humans can reason.

Wikipedia

Logic (adjective)
logical
Logic (noun)
A method of human thought that involves thinking in a linear, step-by-step manner about how a problem can be solved. Logic is the basis of many principles including the scientific method.
Logic (noun)
The study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration.
Logic (noun)
The mathematical study of relationships between rigorously defined concepts and of mathematical proof of statements.
Logic (noun)
A model-theoretic semantics.
Logic (noun)
Any system of thought, whether rigorous and productive or not, especially one associated with a particular person.
"It's hard to work out his system of logic."
Logic (noun)
The part of a system (usually electronic) that performs the boolean logic operations, short for logic gates or logic circuit.
"Fred is designing the logic for the new controller."
Logic (verb)
To engage in excessive or inappropriate application of logic.
Logic (verb)
To apply logical reasoning to.
Logic (verb)
To overcome by logical argument.

Reason (noun)
A cause:
Reason (noun)
That which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause.
"The reason this tree fell is that it had rotted."
Reason (noun)
A motive for an action or a determination.
"The reason I robbed the bank was that I needed the money."
"If you don't give me a reason to go with you, I won't."
Reason (noun)
Rational faculties, collectively, of conception, judgment, deduction and intuition.
"Mankind should develop reason above all other virtues."
Reason (noun)
Something reasonable, in accordance with thought; justice.
Reason (noun)
Ratio; proportion.
Reason (verb)
To deduce or come to a conclusion by being rational
Reason (verb)
To perform a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to argue.
Reason (verb)
To converse; to compare opinions.
Reason (verb)
To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss.
"I reasoned the matter with my friend."
Reason (verb)
To support with reasons, as a request.
Reason (verb)
To persuade by reasoning or argument.
"to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan"
Reason (verb)
To adducing reasons.
"to reason down a passion"
Reason (verb)
To find by logical process; to explain or justify by reason or argument.
"to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon'''"

Wiktionary

Logic (noun)
The science or art of exact reasoning, or of pure and formal thought, or of the laws according to which the processes of pure thinking should be conducted; the science of the formation and application of general notions; the science of generalization, judgment, classification, reasoning, and systematic arrangement; the science of correct reasoning.
Logic (noun)
A treatise on logic; as, Mill's Logic.
Logic (noun)
correct reasoning; as, I can't see any logic in his argument; also, sound judgment; as, the logic of surrender was uncontestable.
Logic (noun)
The path of reasoning used in any specific argument; as, his logic was irrefutable.
Logic (noun)
A function of an electrical circuit (called a gate) that mimics certain elementary binary logical operations on electrical signals, such as AND, OR, or NOT; as, a logic circuit; the arithmetic and logic unit.

Reason (noun)
A thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; a just ground for a conclusion or an action; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation; the efficient cause of an occurrence or a phenomenon; a motive for an action or a determination; proof, more or less decisive, for an opinion or a conclusion; principle; efficient cause; final cause; ground of argument.
Reason (noun)
The faculty or capacity of the human mind by which it is distinguished from the intelligence of the inferior animals; the higher as distinguished from the lower cognitive faculties, sense, imagination, and memory, and in contrast to the feelings and desires. Reason comprises conception, judgment, reasoning, and the intuitional faculty. Specifically, it is the intuitional faculty, or the faculty of first truths, as distinguished from the understanding, which is called the discursive or ratiocinative faculty.
Reason (noun)
Due exercise of the reasoning faculty; accordance with, or that which is accordant with and ratified by, the mind rightly exercised; right intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice.
Reason (noun)
Ratio; proportion.
Reason (verb)
To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts.
Reason (verb)
Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue.
Reason (verb)
To converse; to compare opinions.
Reason
To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend.
Reason
To support with reasons, as a request.
Reason
To persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan.
Reason
To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; - with down; as, to reason down a passion.
Reason
To find by logical processes; to explain or justify by reason or argument; - usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon.

Webster Dictionary

Logic (noun)
the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
Logic (noun)
reasoned and reasonable judgment;
"it made a certain kind of logic"
Logic (noun)
the principles that guide reasoning within a given field or situation;
"economic logic requires it"
"by the logic of war"
Logic (noun)
a system of reasoning

Reason (noun)
a rational motive for a belief or action;
"the reason that war was declared"
"the grounds for their declaration"
Reason (noun)
an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon;
"the reason a steady state was never reached was that the back pressure built up too slowly"
Reason (noun)
the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination;
"we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil"
Reason (noun)
the state of having good sense and sound judgment;
"his rationality may have been impaired"
"he had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions"
Reason (noun)
a justification for something existing or happening;
"he had no cause to complain"
"they had good reason to rejoice"
Reason (noun)
a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion;
"there is reason to believe he is lying"
Reason (verb)
decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion;
"We reasoned that it was cheaper to rent than to buy a house"
Reason (verb)
present reasons and arguments
Reason (verb)
think logically;
"The children must learn to reason"