In this reference to a universal principle, we have also that which distinguishes reasoning from the transition from idea to idea of the associative process. In a large Dart of the con scious life that usually is described as think ing, one idea by its very presence seems to call up another, without the apprehension of any universal or essential law of connection. But this is mere drifting on the Dart of the mind. In reasoning, the mind is fully awake; it sets a definite purpose before it, and proceeds by active attention and analysis to discover essen tial and necessary points of connection. It thus uses association for its own purposes; so that if we define reasoning as a process of association, we must add that it is association guided and controlled at every step by the purposes of thought itself. How conscious and explicit must this direction be before we can call the process reasoning? Can animals properly be said to reason? These questions do not admit of any off-hand answer. The conscious direction of the mind, the clearness with which it appre hends the universal in the particular, is a mat ter of degree. We may say that some direction
on the part of the mind there must be, as well as some apprehension of the terms as universal, if reasoning is to occur, without attempting to determine just when these conditions are ful filled in any individual mind or in any species. What we call conscious reasoning is doubtless continuous with associative and instinctive men tal processes that seem entirely mechanical and irrational, and the connection between the two extremes may be mediated by actually ob servable This continuity, however, gives no justification for refusing to regard the differences as important, or for explaining either extreme of the process in terms of the other. See DEDUCTION; INDUCTION ; LOGIC.
Consult Bosanquet, (Logic' (Vol. II, Lon don 1888); James, Principles of Psychol ogy> (Chap. xxii, New York 1890) ; Creighton, 'An Introductory Logic> (3rd edition, Part III, New York 1908) • Stout, 'Analytic Psychology' (London 18%) ; baldwin, (On Selective Think ing' (in Psycho!. Review, Vol. V 1898); see also the bibliography under Logic.