Theoria: An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science

Volume 1, Issue 3, Junio/Septiembre 1986

Jean-Blaise Grize
Pages 655-666

Preuves et raisons

In this paper everyday reasoning is examined fromm the standpoint of natural logic. In natural logic there is the supposition of the concept of schematisation, i.e. the discursive representation of a situation that a speaker A constructs for a listener B and that B must reconstruct for himself. Under these circumstances, in order to prove that a statement s is true A must present it in such a way that B does not call it into question, that he considers it a fact. For this it is necessary to have proofs. Moreover, a fact is never isolated and it may therefore appear inconsistent with other facts. A is thus led to provide reasons in order to substantiate his statements. Some mechanisms of proofs and of reasons are investigated.