raisonable

Raisonable is a coined term used in contemporary philosophy and critical discourse to denote a standard of justification that integrates reason, evidence, and contextual fit. It is not a widely recognized word in standard English dictionaries, but it appears in online discussions and some niche academic writings.

Etymology and definition: The term draws on raison, the French word for reason, joined with the English suffix -able. It is defined as an attribute of a claim or argument that meets three criteria: it is supported by credible evidence; the reasoning is coherent and explicit; and the argument conforms to the normative constraints of the relevant methodological framework.

Distinctions and usage: Raisonable emphasizes the quality of the justification process rather than merely practical outcomes. It is intended to separate arguments that are truly well-justified from those that are merely plausible or persuasive. In practice, it is used to evaluate debates in science, ethics, and public policy, especially in online forums and small-circulation journals. Example usage: "The raisonable interpretation of the data accounts for confounding factors and adequately addresses counterevidence."

Limitations: Because raisonable is not standardized, usage varies by community, and critics argue that it can introduce ambiguity or serve as jargon.

See also: Reason, Rationality, Justification, Logical validity.