principle-of-sufficient-reason
/ˈprɪn.sɪ.pəl əv səˈfɪʃ.ənt ˈriː.zən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A philosophical idea that says every fact or event must have a reason or explanation. It means nothing happens without a sufficient cause or explanation.
- She studied the principle of sufficient reason in philosophy class.
- The theory rests on the principle of sufficient reason.
- He asked for a reason, following the principle of sufficient reason.
Adinary Nuance
This phrase is more technical than words like reason, cause, or explanation. Use it in philosophy or academic writing, not in everyday conversation. It sounds precise because it refers to a rule, not just a single reason.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nguyên lý lý do đầy đủ
- Spanish
- principio de razón suficiente
- Chinese
- 充足理由律
- Japanese
- 充足理由律
- Korean
- 충분이유율
Etymology
The phrase comes from philosophy, especially from German and earlier Latin writing. It was used by thinkers such as Leibniz in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Common phrases
the principle of sufficient reasona principle of sufficient reasonaccording to the principle of sufficient reason
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is principle of sufficient reason a common phrase?
- No. It is mainly used in philosophy and academic writing.
- Can I use this in everyday English?
- Usually not. In daily speech, people say reason, cause, or explanation.
- What is the difference between this and reason?
- Reason is a general word. This phrase names a philosophical idea about all events.