Reason (argument)

In general terms, a reason is a consideration in an argument that justifies or explains an action, belief, attitude, or fact.^[1] A reason, in many cases, is brought up by the question "why?" and is answered following the word because. Additionally, words and phrases such as since, due to, as, a result of, considering (that), and in order (to), for example, all serve as explanatory locutions that precede the reason to which they refer.

Normative reasons are appealed to when arguments are made about what one should do or believe. For example, that a doctor's patient is grimacing is a reason to believe that the patient is in pain. That the patient is in pain is a reason for the doctor to take action to alleviate this pain. Explanatory reasons are explanations of why things happened. For example, the reason that the patient is in pain is that their nerves are sending signals from their tissues to their brain.