Difference between revisions of "Rationalism"

Latest revision as of 01:42, 30 September 2011

Overview

Rationalism is the view that rational thinking – i.e. reasoning from available data – is the only sane justification for action, and the best way of determining truth.

It can also be seen as a philosophical doctrine which asserts that fundamental truths about the nature of reality are best discovered by reason and analysis of factual observations rather than any other method, such as faith, adherence to tradition, or careful study of existing doctrine or scripture.

Notes

What is the distinction between rationalism and positivism? The "key features" listed seem like a pretty definitive/universal explanation of how science works, which I would think would be a basic part of rationalism -- but perhaps there are rationalists who don't consider science to be essential?

Related Pages

Rationalism holds that reason is the best method by which to derive knowledge.
Rationality is the quality of being rational.
Science is essentially the application of rationalism towards developing a body of knowledge and a set of tools for minimizing error in (and removing error from) that knowledge.
The concept of rationalization is often conflated with rationalism and rationality.

Links

Reference

Wikipedia: Rationalism | Rationalist movement | Rationality
Conservapedia apparently finds the following Biblical quote relevant: "Test all things; hold fast what is good."
dKosopedia site down, can't verify page (as of 2008-06-10)
~~SourceWatch~~ no equivalent page (as of 2008-06-10)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[category:isms]][[category:concepts]][[Rationalism]] is any view appealing to [[reason]] (rationality) as a source of [[knowledge]] or justification.
+[[category:isms]]
+[[category:concepts]]
+[[File:Rationalism-Not-Dead-Yet.jpg|right|400px]]
+==Overview==
+[[Rationalism]] is the view that [[rational]] thinking &ndash; i.e. [[reason]]ing from available data &ndash; is the only sane justification for action, and the best way of determining [[truth]].
-It is the basis of the rationalist movement, a philosophical doctrine which asserts that fundamental truths about the nature of reality are best discovered by [[reason]] and [[fact]]ual analysis of [[observation]]s rather than other methods, such as [[faith]]  or [[dogmatism|careful study of existing doctrine]].
+It can also be seen as a philosophical doctrine which asserts that fundamental truths about the nature of reality are best discovered by [[reason]] and analysis of [[fact]]ual [[observation]]s rather than any other method, such as [[faith]], adherence to [[tradition]], or careful study of existing [[doctrine]] or [[scripture]].
-Rationalism is the philosophy upon which [[science]] is based, and from which scientific practices and techniques have evolved.
 ==Notes==
-What is the distinction between Rationalism and [[Wikipedia:Positivism (philosophy)|Positivism]]? The "key features" listed seem like a pretty definitive/universal explanation of how science works, which I would think would be a basic part of Rationalism -- but perhaps there are rationalists who don't consider science to be essential?
+What is the distinction between rationalism and [[Wikipedia:Positivism (philosophy)|positivism]]? The "key features" listed seem like a pretty definitive/universal explanation of how science works, which I would think would be a basic part of rationalism -- but perhaps there are rationalists who don't consider science to be essential?
 ==Related Pages==
 * [[Rationalism]] holds that [[reason]] is the best method by which to derive [[knowledge]].
+* [[Rationality]] is the quality of being [[rational]].
+* [[Science]] is essentially the application of [[rationalism]] towards developing a body of knowledge and a set of tools for minimizing error in (and removing error from) that knowledge.
+* The concept of [[rationalization]] is often conflated with [[rationalism]] and [[rationality]].
 ==Links==
 ===Reference===
 * Wikipedia: [[wikipedia:Rationalism|Rationalism]] | [[wikipedia:Rationalist movement|Rationalist movement]] | [[wikipedia:Rationality|Rationality]]
-==Notes==
+* {{conservapedia}} apparently finds the following [[Biblical]] quote relevant: "Test all things; hold fast what is good."
-Should "rationality" be a separate article?
+* {{dkosopedia}} site down, can't verify page (as of 2008-06-10)
+* <s>{{sourcewatch}}</s>[[category:!sourcewatch]] no equivalent page (as of 2008-06-10)