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

Mr Brown added: "Bearing in mind the person said they don't keep to the consent procedure because of practical reason, it is not a big leap to say there's lots of other people involved."

From BBC • Jun. 5, 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

I think about stepping closer to him, not for any practical reason, but just because I want to see what it would be like to stand that close to him; just because I want to.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth