rationalism
nounAU, CA, US, UK /ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəlɪzəm/
Etymology From rational + -ism.
1
Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences The theory that reason is a source of knowledge independent of and superior to sense perception.
2
Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences The theory that knowledge may be derived by deductions from a priori concepts (such as axioms, postulates or earlier deductions).
3
A view that the fundamental method for problem solving is through reason and experience rather than faith, inspiration, revelation, intuition or authority.
- The opinion opposed to mysticism in philosophy is sometimes spoken of as rationalism. Rationalism insists that all our beliefs ought ultimately to find for themselves articulate grounds. Such grounds, for rationalism, must consist of four things: (1) definitely statable abstract principles; (2) definite facts of sensation; (3) definite hypotheses based on such facts; and (4) definite inferences logically drawn.1902, William James, “Lecture 3”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC:
4
Elaboration of theories by use of reason alone without appeal to experience, such as in mathematical systems.
- Synonyms
- apriorism, intellectualism
- Antonyms
- sensationalism, irrationalism, traditionalism, mysticism
- Derived terms
- agnostic rationalism, antirationalism, critical rationalism, economic rationalism, pseudorationalism
- Related terms
- rationalist, rationality, empiricism
- Coordinate terms
- empiricism