Meaning & use
rationalism
The philosophical view that reason, rather than experience or faith, is the primary source of knowledge and truth.
See it in a sentence
Descartes is often considered a founder of rationalism because he trusted logical reasoning above the senses.
The Enlightenment encouraged a spirit of rationalism that challenged traditional religious authority in Europe.
A note on using this word
Rationalism is traditionally contrasted with empiricism, which holds that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience rather than reason alone.
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