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active reason

American  

noun

Aristotelianism.
  1. an activity of intellect, embodying universal truth, potentially present in the mind of every individual, and when present, forming the only immortal part of the individual.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Only active reason," says Hegel, "reduced the mere multiplicity and diversity of phenomena to antithesis.

From The life and teaching of Karl Marx by Beer, M.

In subordination to the passive intellect, the external faculty, the active reason, is also to be cultivated; it deserves care, like the skin.

From History of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time by Falckenberg, Richard

The active reason is a much higher faculty, which exists by participation in the divine mind, "as the air is light by participation in the sunshine."

From Light, Life, and Love : selections from the German mystics of the middle ages by Inge, William Ralph

The perfection of man is based more on his passive capacities than on his active reason, which is concerned with mere ideas, unreal shadows; the mathematical spirit leads to fatalism, to the denial of freedom.

From History of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time by Falckenberg, Richard

He seems to waver about identifying the "spark" with the "active reason," but inclines on the whole to regard it as something even higher still.

From Light, Life, and Love : selections from the German mystics of the middle ages by Inge, William Ralph