Practical reasoning

Definition

Practical reasoning moves from a goal and beliefs about means to a decision to act: I want G; doing A is the best available way to get G; so I should do A. Judging it means checking all three joints — is the goal worth having, does the means really deliver it, and at what cost compared to the alternatives.

Memory hook

“Goal plus best means points to the act.”

What it sounds like

• If we want to make the tide, we should leave by noon.
• The surest way to save the roof is to fix it before the snows.
• Given what we're after, the cart road is the choice.