rationalism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in philosophy, the view that reason can provide at least some substantive knowledge independently of sensory experience, often through innate ideas or a priori reasoning

   Descartes is closely associated with rationalism because he sought certainty through reason rather than observation alone.

2. 2
   noun

   the principle of basing beliefs and actions on reason rather than emotion, tradition, or unexamined authority

   Her rationalism led her to question a ritual that everyone else accepted without argument.

3. 3
   noun

   in theology, an approach that subjects religious claims to human reason rather than treating revelation or church authority as final

   The theologian's rationalism prompted him to reinterpret miracles as symbolic narratives.

Formed from rational plus -ism. Rational came through French and Latin rationalis, 'of or endowed with reason,' from ratio, 'reckoning, calculation, reason.' The suffix -ism marks a doctrine or systematic outlook.

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