Principle of Relative Reason

A meta‑principle that what counts as good reasoning is relative to a framework of norms, goals, and contexts. There is no single universal standard of rationality; instead, reasoning is judged by its appropriateness to the specific domain (science, law, ethics, daily life). It challenges monistic accounts of rationality.

Principle of Relative Reason Example: “The principle of relative reason explains why Bayesian reasoning works for statistics but not for existential decisions—different domains have different rationalities.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

Principle of Spectral Reason

A principle that reasoning can be evaluated on a spectrum from “very reasonable” to “very unreasonable” rather than a binary rational/irrational. It allows for degrees of reasonableness, recognizing that arguments can be partially cogent, contextually sound, or more or less justified.

Principle of Spectral Reason Example: “His proposal wasn’t fully rational or fully irrational; under the principle of spectral reason, it was moderately reasonable given the constraints.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

Principle of Infinite Reason

A principle that there are infinitely many forms of reason, each with its own standards, and that reasoning itself can be infinite in its iterations (e.g., recursive justification). It rejects the idea that reason has a finite foundation or a single set of rules, embracing the open‑endedness of rational inquiry.

Principle of Infinite Reason Example: “The principle of infinite reason reminds us that every ‘why’ can be met with another ‘why’—justification is potentially endless.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

Principle of Contextual Reason

A principle that the standards of good reasoning are shaped by the context—the purposes, background assumptions, and situational constraints. What is reasonable in a hurried emergency is not the same as what is reasonable in a philosophical seminar. Contextual reason emphasizes pragmatic adaptability.

Principle of Contextual Reason Example: “In a crisis, intuitive snap decisions are reasonable; in academic research, the same reasoning would be condemned. Contextual reason explains why.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

Principle of Perspective Reason

A principle that reason is always exercised from a particular standpoint, and that what appears reasonable from one perspective may appear unreasonable from another. It encourages reflexivity about the situatedness of our reasoning practices and the recognition that different perspectives can each have their own internal rationality.

Example: “The principle of perspective reason helps us understand why two experts with different training can honestly reach opposite conclusions—their reasoning is rational from their respective perspectives.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

the gillis principle

The Gillis Principle outlines the proportionality between the amounts of mountain dew and marijuana that would kill an average human.

Mathematically, 1 Gillis (Gi) is the unit of either substance (Marijuana or Mountain Dew) that would kill a human when consumed within an hour. Both substances have calculated conversion rates based on experimental data.

Mountain Dew: 8823mg Caffeine = ~173 cans = 61L = 1Gi/Hour
Marijuana: 68000g THC = 971 000 Joints = 1Gi/Hour

It can be concluded using the Gillis Principle that Mountain Dew has a far higher lethality rate than Marijuana.

Friend 1: "Hey, did you hear? Jared smoked himself to death last night."
Friend 2: "Yeah that must've been a Gillis-ton of weed!"
Friend 1: "Using the Gillis Principle, that was like 971 000 Joints."

by PolChan December 6, 2014

Inverse Intoxication Principle

The principle stating that people who say that they are "soo drunk right not" are usually fairly sober, while people who say they are "not that drunk" are usually highly intoxicated.

Max: Dude, I swear I'm not that drunk.

Sam: You just pissed in our trashcan asshole. I think you're pretty fucked up right now.

Kyle: Yeah he's gone. Perfect example of the Inverse Intoxication Principle.

by JC Swaggg November 25, 2012