I'd argue that what's generally considered "reasoning" isn't actually rooted in understanding either. It's just the process you apply to get to a conclusion ex

I'd argue that what's generally considered "reasoning" isn't actually rooted in understanding either. It's just the process you apply to get to a conclusion expressed more abstractly: is about drawing logical connections between points and extrapolating from them. To quote the definition: "the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way." I believe it's rooted in mathematics, not physics. That's probably why there is such a focus on the process instead of the result