practical reason

American  

noun

1. (in Kantian ethics) reason applied to the problem of action and choice, especially in ethical matters.

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practical reason British  

noun

1. the faculty by which human beings determine how to act

2. reasoning concerning the relative merits of actions

3. the principles governing arguments which issue in actions or intentions to act

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Etymology

Origin of practical reason

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Many real-life animals known as hematophages that sustain themselves on blood for a more practical reason — survival.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2024

Natalie Portman just shared her very practical reason for steering away from Method acting.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2024

Sen. Brian Schatz, Democrat from Hawaii, has a more practical reason for liking consensus.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023

There is a practical reason for that, with TV companies wanting to show every ball of every match, meaning having more than one game per day is unattractive.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2023

I never sought to undermine Mr. de Klerk, for the practical reason that the weaker he was, the weaker the negotiations process.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela