Lazy Reason is a pejorative name for a logical argument which holds that since all events are predestined, it is not necessary to carefully deliberate about one's actions.

Determinism is the philosophical proposition that every event, including human cognition and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. In other words, Determinism holds that Free Will does not exist, and that everything is essentially pre-determined. Determinism is the philosophical proposition that every event, including human cognition and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. ... Determinism is the philosophical proposition that every event, including human cognition and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. ... Free will is the philosophical doctrine that holds that our choices are ultimately up to ourselves. ...

But this presents a puzzle: If everything is pre-determined, why should we worry about the future, if it is something we cannot change?

"Lazy Reason" is the idea that, indeed, we should not worry about the future, and should instead just accept whatever the future holds.

Historical Discussion

One of the most vocal opponents of "lazy reason" was the philosopher Leibniz. In his preface to Theodicy, Leibniz discussed "lazy reason": Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (also Leibnitz or von Leibniz)[1] (July 1 (June 21 Old Style) 1646, Leipzig – November 14, 1716, Hanover) was a German polymath of Sorbian origin, deemed a universal genius in his day and since. ...

Men have been perplexed in well-nigh every age by a sophism which the ancients called the 'Lazy reason', because it tended towards doing nothing, or at least towards being careful for nothing, and only following inclination for the pleasure of the moment. For, they said, if the future is necessary, that which must happen will happen, whatever I may do. Now the future (so they said) is necessary, whether because the Divinity foresees everything, and even pre-establishes it by the control of all things in the universe; or because everything happens of necessity, through the concatenation of causes; or finally, through the very nature of truth, which is determinate in the assertions that can be made on future events, as it is in all assertions, since the assertion must always be true or false in itself, even though we know not always which it is. And all these reasons for determination which appear different converge finally like lines upon one and the same center; for there is a truth in the future event which is pre-determined by the causes, and God pre-establishes it in establishing the causes.

In his Discourse on Metaphysics, Leibniz also says:

"One should not be a quietist with the arms folded, open to ridicule, awaiting that which God will do; according to the sophism which the ancients called 'logon aergon', the lazy reason."

Quietism is a Christian philosophy that swept through France, Italy and Spain during the 17th century, but it had much earlier origins. ...

A Modern Example

One near contemporary presentation of lazy reason is the theme of the old popular song "Que Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)". In the song, a young child repeatedly asks questions about her future, but is advised that "Whatever will be, will be": Whatever Will Be (Que Será, Será) (also transposed as Que Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)) is a popular song, with music by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans. ...

When I was just a child in school, I asked my teacher, what should I try?

Should I paint pictures? Should I sing songs? This was her wise reply:

Que sera sera-- Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see;

So, que sera sera-- What will be, will be.

See also

• Determinism
• Free Will
• Predestination

Determinism is the philosophical proposition that every event, including human cognition and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. ... Free will is the philosophical doctrine that holds that our choices are ultimately up to ourselves. ... Predestination is a religious idea, under which the relationship between the beginning of things and the destiny of things is discussed. ...

External links

• Leibniz on "Lazy Reason"
• Leibniz's Discourses on Metaphysics