Rationalism begins with the insight that empiricism is self-refuting, since it cannot actually state its own position without implicitly admitting that in addition to observations and contingent relations of observations, other meaningful things and relations (i.e., words sustained through action and acquiring meaning in the course of such action) must also exist.
Rationalism is the epistemological view that "regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge" or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification". More formally, rationalism is defined as a methodology or a theory "in which the criterion of truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive".
Beliefs[edit | edit source]
A Priori[edit | edit source]
A priori knowledge means that there exists knowledge that can be gained before, or even without experience. A priori knowledge is derived through logical reasoning and deductive method, without need of empirical evidence. For example, mathematical equations (2 + 2 = 4) and logical statements (P is different than Q) are considered a priori, because they don't rely on empirical observation and come purely from mental processes.
Deductive Reasoning[edit | edit source]
Deductive reasoning is a process of logical thought where conclusions are drawn from a set of general premises and principles. If premises are true and the reasoning is valid, the conclusion is true and justified. For instance, if "All humans are mortal" and "John Doe and Ivan Ivanovich are humans", then deducing that "John Doe and Ivan Ivanovich are mortal" is valid statement.
History[edit | edit source]
Ancient Rationalism[edit | edit source]
Although modern rationalism developed later, its foundations were laid in antiquity. 
Pythagoras emphasized mathematical order as the key to understanding reality, famously declaring "All is number." 
Plato advanced rationalist thought through his Theory of Forms, asserting that true knowledge exists beyond sensory experience and can only be grasped through reason. 
Aristotle, while incorporating empirical elements, formalized logic with his system of syllogisms, establishing a system for deductive reasoning.
Medieval Rationalism[edit | edit source]
Medieval rationalism was largely shaped by its integration with theology. Philosophers such as 
Augustine, 
Avicenna, 
Averroes, and 
Maimonides applied rational principles to religious philosophy. 
Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile Aristotelian logic with Christian doctrine, influencing 
Scholasticism. However, the 
Catholic Church often viewed rationalism as a challenge to faith, opposing interpretations that prioritized reason over divine revelation.
Classical Rationalism[edit | edit source]
René Descartes is often considered the father of modern philosophy, emphasizing that reason alone could provide certain knowledge. He introduced methodic doubt, questioning all sensory-based beliefs, and established his famous principle: Cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"). He also formulated 
Cartesian Dualism, distinguishing between the mind (res cogitans) and body (res extensa), which led to the mind-body problem.
Baruch Spinoza built a systematic, logical philosophy in response to Descartes. His Ethics presented a monist view where God and nature are identical. Using a geometrical method, he explored emotions and free will, influencing later thinkers like Einstein.
Gottfried Leibniz proposed the theory of monads—indivisible, non-material units of reality. He rejected Cartesian Dualism and introduced pre-established harmony, arguing that these monads operate independently but appear coordinated.
Immanuel Kant synthesized 
Rationalism and 
Empiricism with transcendental idealism. In Critique of Pure Reason, he argued that while knowledge requires experience, the mind structures that experience using a priori concepts. He also critiqued pure reason's limits, especially regarding metaphysical claims about God, free will, and the soul.
Modern Rationalism[edit | edit source]
Modern rationalism developed in response to advances in logic, mathematics, and science. 
Gottlob Frege and 
Bertrand Russell revolutionized logic and mathematics, showing that mathematical truths could be derived from pure logic. 
Ludwig Wittgenstein in his early work, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, sought to establish a logical structure underlying language and reality.
Edmund Husserl, who developed 
Phenomenology, argued that consciousness itself possesses inherent rational structures. 
Noam Chomsky, in linguistics, challenged strict empiricism by proposing 
universal grammar, suggesting that fundamental aspects of knowledge are innate rather than learned through experience.
In the philosophy of science, 
Karl Popper rejected traditional empiricist views of scientific knowledge, arguing instead for falsifiability as the key criterion of scientific theories. He maintained that no amount of empirical data can ever fully verify a theory, but a single counterexample can falsify it. This view, known as 
Critical Rationalism, positioned reason and hypothesis-driven inquiry at the core of scientific progress.
Variants[edit | edit source]
Aesthetic Rationalism[edit | edit source]
Aesthetic Rationalism holds that aesthetic pleasure arises from the intuitive recognition of perfection (perfectio), understood as harmony, unity in variety, or order. The central thesis of the rationalist theory is that aesthetic pleasure consists in the perception of perfection; in other words, an aesthetic judgment is based upon an intuitio perfectionis, where perfection involves beauty, which is concinnitas or harmonia, i.e., unity in variety, sameness in diversity. Its main project was 
Wolff's Ars Inveniendi.
This theory of aesthetic judgment is a challenge to all theories like Kant's, which hold that aesthetic pleasure is entirely subjective, a feeling that has "no reference whatsoever to any feature of an object".
Cognitive Rationalism[edit | edit source]
Moral Rationalism[edit | edit source]
Moral Rationalism is a view which states that moral principles are knowable by reason alone.
Criticism[edit | edit source]
Irrationalism, 
IntuitionismCriticism of Rationalism or Anti-Rationalism is a critique of Rationalism. Some theorists says that Irrationalism is the literal opposition of Rationalism. Philosophers like 
Nietzsche and later 
post-structuralists question the idea of a universal, objective reason, suggesting that what we consider "rational" is influenced by power, ideology, and subjective human perspectives.
Proponents of 
Emotional Choice Theory criticize rationalism for its heavy reliance on conscious, reflective decision-making, assuming that people calculate and deliberate based solely on thoughts and beliefs. However, findings in psychology and neuroscience reveal that the majority of brain activity occurs at an unconscious level, driven by emotions and appraisals.
Symbolics[edit | edit source]
- Draw a ball
- Color it salad green
- Draw an ancient time telemeter
- Add the two eyes
You are done!
| Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salad Green | #8FC124 | 143, 193, 36 | |
| Dark Grey | #242026 | 36, 32, 38 | |
Relationships[edit | edit source]
Friends[edit | edit source]
Cartesianism - Thanks for being my first formal proponent.
Logicism - My most famous application.
Skepticism - Questioning and doubt are the way to obtaining knowledge. Just don't overuse it, or at least to try logically "rebuild" the reality. And don't dare you question the foundations of reason!
Justificationism - A claim being logically correct is enough to justify that claim.
Foundationalism - Foundations can be derived from reason alone.
Definitionism - Definitions are crucial to understanding of facts.
Reliabilism - The very process of human thought is reliable.
Coherentism - A proposition must be cohesive with other logical propositions which are proven true.
Innatism - We access universal axioms and concepts through rational process of thought.
Internalism - You can know something even if you are closed in a perfectly dark room while being tied with a rope.
Virtue Epistemology - Intellect, reason, facts and logic are the real virtues.
Austrian School - Best school of economics! You're pretty much my only real supporters nowadays...
Liberal Theology - This is how theology should be conducted.
Frenemies[edit | edit source]
Empiricism - Good old rival. We sometimes bicker, but we also often get along, agree on many issues, and share many theories. Still, asserting that knowledge is only obtained a posteriori is in of itself a synthetic a priori proposition.
Pragmatism - Reason is the solution all practical problem. What do you mean that I treat reason as transcendent dogma though?
Kantianism - Synthetic a priori, yes! What's this about A Critique of Pure Reason, though?
Aristotelian Logic - You may be "logic," but you're more like him than me.
Intuitionism - Excuse me, how exactly did you get your knowledge? Thanks for the axioms!
Scholasticism & 
Calvinism - It's nice to see that religion and rationality can coexist. However, you need to discard all that superstitious baggage.
Enemies[edit | edit source]
Irrationalism - How irrational you must be to believe this.
Subjectivism - There are definitely axioms that are objective and appliable to actual reasoning as well as world around us.
Externalism - Processes happening in your head are enough to justify a fact.
Fideism - You can't just "believe" in something if it doesn't have any logical foundations.
Conventionalism - Even if the majority thinks that 2 + 2 = 5, it will never be true.
Epistemological Nihilism - You can reject any axiom, but you are left with nothing at all, and then you can do nothing.
Lutheranism - Fuck you. You are the true Devil's greatest whore, cope.
Nondualism - Does not... compute...
Eastern Orthodoxy - I don't need that mystical nonsense to gain access to the truth. I have my intellect.
Quotes[edit | edit source]
Further Information[edit | edit source]
Literature[edit | edit source]
Wikipedia[edit | edit source]
[edit | edit source]
 Ethics - Please follow the standards  |
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 Philosophy of Science - E=mc² |
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