Sufficient Reason

The Principle of Sufficient Reason is traditionally regarded as one of the two cardinal Principles of Reason. Its relation to the other, the Principle of Contradiction, is a matter of debate--whether either is reducible to the other, or they are independent of one another. The Principle of Sufficient Reason requires that anything that exists have a complete ground of its existence. The fundamental structure of the Principle is syllogistic--the combination of an existent, and some Universal proposition, of which the former is an instance. The two main types of such Universal proposition are Theoretical Laws and Practical Principles. The most familiar versions of Theoretical Laws are scientific laws, and of Practical Principles, Ethical maxims. The Principle of Sufficient Reason governs any question, abstract and everyday, 'Why?'. The general structure of the response to 'Why?' is 'Because . . .' followed by the citing of a relevant Universal proposition, a citing which is often only implicit in everday circumstances, while specialists endeavor to make it explicit. So, why some object fell to the ground might be explained by citing the Law of Gravity. Or, why one helped another in need might be explained by citing the Golden Rule. And, any dissatisfaction with an explanation is an expression of its insufficiency, a calling for the citing of an alternative principle, or for the additional citing of other principles, e. g. the Law of Gravity does not, by itself, explain why an object might shatter when it falls. So, those who assert an aversion to 'Reason' are likely ignoring their reliance on it in even the most mundane of circumstances. Now, in Formaterialism, a Universal principle expresses that something pertains throughout a System, so the application of that principle to a new event is an incorporation of the novelty into the System. In other words, the Principle of Sufficient Reason is also a description of Evolvement.