Conceptual reasoning

Definition

Conceptual reasoning works out what follows from the structure of an idea itself — what promising entails, what forgiveness excludes, what a gift must be free of. Where definitional reasoning pins a word's usage, conceptual reasoning unfolds the idea behind the word, and its conclusions hold in any vocabulary.

Memory hook

“Unfold what the idea already contains.”

What it sounds like

• That's just what a promise is.
• You can't sell what you're giving — then it isn't a gift.
• Forgiving him while keeping the grudge isn't forgiving at all.