ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that there are forms of reasoning that bridge between idle musings and dreams (or visions, as I call them here), and further reasoning that functions as a bridge between visions and moral action. The term we will use for the latter is “visionary syllogisms.” These are specific to living as a social being. We begin the job of a basic taxonomy of reasoning of a social nature in this chapter, illuminating some differences, for example, among reasoning forms associated with hope, forgiveness and trust. They are syllogisms for what I call world-making. They arise from visions of the possible future—dreams—which serve as a fundamental moral fuel. The account of these visions flows from a more elemental account of personal aspiration. And all visions, aspirations included, have their sources in real-time feeling—for example, love, honor and admiration—for the concrete people of our lives. Thus, in these syllogisms, the merging of intellect and feeling—the distributed nature of our reasoning—is once more made manifest. The focus of this chapter is on practical reasoning in interpersonal contexts, especially practical reasoning about the personal and interpersonal spheres—the spheres of reasoning where the fundamental practical syllogism is key. We extend the examination of practical reasoning to the larger social and political contexts in the next chapter.
