The term you want is logically rigorous, Bill. It means cleaving tightly to standard of allowable thought and sequences of reasoning.

Of course, wild thought doesn't give a hoot for bars and pathways and allowances, and wanders whither it listeth. Often into very unreasonable and unreal destinations.

In the middle ground there is thought that is valid because it matches up to a criterion of truth that may be a personal criterion (workability or sufficient beauty or consistent with X moral code or Y metaphysics) for an individual, and some of that may get agreed upon and be deemed valid by a group--homilies are an example.   Homilies aren't rigorous but they are widely deemed valid. A stitch in time saves nine, and you shouldn't change horses in the middle of a stream. I am SURE you agree... :D

A