Ragione

Ragione is an Italian noun that denotes the faculty of reason or rational thought. It can also refer to a justification or ground for a belief or action, as in avere ragione (to be right) and dare ragione a qualcuno (to agree with or concede that someone is right). In everyday use, ragione often carries connotations of sound judgment, fairness, and prudent thinking.

Etymology and scope. The word derives from Latin ratio, through the development of Italian, and is cognate with the French raison and the Spanish razón. The sense of ratio encompasses calculation, explanation, and logical grounding, which underpins its broad Italian usage in both philosophical and practical contexts.

Philosophical and logical usage. In philosophy and epistemology, ragione refers to the rational faculty capable of inference, demonstration, and the organization of beliefs. It has played a central role in medieval and modern debates about knowledge, justification, and moral theory, and remains a standard term in Italian discussions of logic, ethics, and theory of knowledge.

Common usage and cultural references. The expression avere ragione is frequently used to indicate that one is correct, while non avere ragione signals a lack of correctness. The phrase ragione e sentimento is the Italian title of Sense and Sensibility, illustrating how ragione appears in cultural and literary contexts. The verb ragionare means to reason or argument, to think through or discuss logically.

See also. Logica, filosofia, razionalità.