Chapter 11: Being Reasonable

SLIDE 2:
Today we are going to talk about an idea present in the English language: the concept of
being reasonable or not.
Have you ever wondered what it means to be reasonable? It is a difficult idea to define,
or to explain. We will see why.

SLIDE 3:
The period before the Enlightenment, which spanned the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries,
is known as the Pre-Enlightenment. This short stage goes from the middle of 1600 and the first
third of 1700.
The origin of the terms “reasonable” and “unreasonable” is found in the British Pre-
Enlightenment period.
In this period, Shakespeare gives us a clue to the use of the term. When we read the use
that the author gives it, we see that it is closely linked to the idea of “reason”. For example:
My reasonable part produces reason
In this excerpt, “reasonable part” seems to refer to his ability to think or reason.
In this way, we can see that since its use in Shakespeare's time the term was related to
the ability to think. And it does not necessarily mean what seems logical to the modern reader.
In Shakespeare's story the "reasonable" could be to commit suicide, feel intense jealousy and so
on...
These actions are justified because they come from the character's reason, but not
because they are moderate or consistent. At this time, the reasonable was not the moderate, as
we can consider it today.
In modern English usage it is also not logical to say “reasonable creature”, as it was for
Shakespeare. Since at the time the idea only reflected the quality of a being endowed with
reason or the ability to think.
Today it would only be possible to say: “a reasonable man”, like the one who carries out
actions that we consider coherent or moderate. But not like the one who is capable of thinking.

SLIDE 4:
In the modern English we use today, the word "reasonable" seems to have several
meanings. In some contexts, it may have the antonym of "unreasonable" and in others it may
not. Which gives us a guideline that the word can have different meanings.
Let's think for a moment about what it means to say that a person is being unreasonable.
On the one hand, it gives us the idea that the person is not thinking well or clearly. On the
other hand, it can also mean that they want too much.
 Let's see some examples: A request, a price, expectations… can be considered as
reasonable or unreasonable, but there is no unreasonable guess or unreasonable doubt, we only
use phrases such as: reasonable guess or reasonable doubt.
Observations, explanations or hypotheses, will rarely be characterized as unreasonable,
but often as reasonable.
In modern English, to be reasonable is not a virtue to be exercised in solitude.
Reasonableness is exercised in relation to others.
If one is alone, it can be said that he is being rational or irrational, but it is only said
that he is reasonable or unreasonable when he is with others, or when the action or attitude is in
relation to others.

SLIDE 5:
If we take as an example sentences like:
“A reasonable location”, or “a reasonable standard of living”, or “a reasonable service”
or “a reasonable support”, among others…
We realize that “reasonable” can be replaced by “reasonably good” but not reasonably
bad. Saying “reasonably bad results” doesn't sound good in English.
This is so, because the aspect of "good" is included in the meaning of reasonable. If it is
reasonable, it implies being good.
In this way, the use of reasonable suggests a certain degree of praise on the part of the
person saying it, or what we could consider as “limited praise”. It is limited, because the term
does not give the idea of something "very good" but simply "good".
In the case of comfort, if one says that a space presents reasonable comfort, it does not
mean that it is SUPER COMFORTABLE. Nor does it mean that it is not comfortable. It is
positive, but barely enough for expectations.
In this sense, the consideration of something as reasonable can be considered
subjective. What is to say: dependent on a personal or collective opinion.
These aspects (the ability to think well, limited praise and the opinion of others) are
involved in phrases such as: “a reasonable comment”. How?
The phrase a reasonable comment implies that a comment made by another person is
considered good up to a certain point, appropriate to the circumstances and approved by those
who think it is reasonable.

SLIDE 6:
The concept of reasonable man is one of the most important in British common law or
law derived from the British.
In the famous words of a judge: The man from The Clapham omnibus: what means,
any ordinary person who has the ability to reason or think correctly.
It is related to the idea of common sense and, in turn, of the common man. These are
notions of cultural consensus. An act that is considered common sense in one society may be
totally out of common sense in another. For example, eating dogs or cats is normalized in some
Eastern cultures, while it is strongly rejected and criminalized in most Western cultures.
Why do we say that this concept is democratic and pragmatic? Because it implies
that most ordinary people are reasonable people or has common sense.

SLIDE 7:

Although it is a concept used within the legal framework, it is understandable for

everyone. Lawyers and judges are common men, and as such they are capable of understanding
the idea of “reasonable man”.
When we say that this concept is typical of the legal world, we do not mean that it is
EXCLUSIVE to the legal world. It is widely used in ordinary English and essentially equivalent
in meaning.
The emergence of the concept "reasonable man" has its origin (as well as the term
reasonable itself) during the British Enlightenment. This era was known as the Age of Reason.
The word "reason" was a key word for this philosophical movement.
Great philosophers of this time, such as Descartes, Hume and Locke, shaped the
concept of "reason" in their ideas.
The emergence of the legal doctrine “beyond reasonable doubt” was of great
importance for the evolution of the term “reasonable”. This doctrine states that an event is
considered in a certain way beyond any reasonable or logical doubt.
Say a reasonable man or person is not the same as to say a reasonable teacher or boss.
The first alludes to his ability to think or act with common sense. The second implies that
the teacher is a fairly good teacher. In the case of the boss, not only is he good, but he is not too
demanding with his employees.