For questions regarding the epistemological view opposing empiricism. Rationalism, traditionally associated with philosophers like Descartes, Leibniz and Spinoza, emphasizes reason, rather than experience, as the basis for knowledge. Not to be used for the concept of rationality or rational thinking in general.
Questions tagged [rationalism]
61 questions
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Is Skepticism the most rational standpoint?
Is Philosophical Skepticism - the one that advocates true knowledge is impossible, the most rational standpoint?
I am asking this based on the observation that there are very few things whose existence is certain to be true.
We are not certain…
AIB
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When can we call an explanation "rational"?
There are a lot of questions involving rational judgment, rational choice, rational explanation, etc... And at the same time, it seems that "being rational" is a guiding principle for a lot of people.
However, I am not sure that I completely…
robin girard
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How do rationalists justify the scientific method?
From what I understand rationalism allows some knowledge to be acquired innately, and that rationalism was created as the opposite of empiricism. Since the scientific method assumes that knowledge is acquired empirically, how would a rationalist…
lmn32
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What are the more complex/interesting examples of synthetic a priori statements?
The usual examples of synthetic a priori statements are – it seems at least since Kant:
"Nothing can be simultaneously red and green all over"
7 + 5 = 12 (or any other basic arithmetic statements).
Are there more complex examples than those two?…
viuser
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Defenses of Descartes's rationality in regards to "cogito" fallacy?
What philosophers and in what writings, if any, have attempted to explain or defend Descartes's rationalism in respect to the "cogito ergo sum" fallacy pointed out by philosophers like Russell, and Wittgenstein?
Kyle
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Is there "empirical" distance without "mathematical" distance?
Mathematicians since antiquity have been thinking about length and angle, including doing things with straight-edges, rulers, compasses, and protractors. Fast-forward to modern physics, and you'll see everything from the Euclidean distance in…
Galen
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Does philosophy shed any light on how parties can fruitfully debate without an agreed source of truth?
A hallmark of recent political developments is extreme partisanship, where each side has near total distrust of the other. To exacerbate this situation there has been a breakdown in agreement over what constitutes the truth and even how one can…
Bob Tway
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Can there be information without a "knower"?
I am trying to wrap my head around the principle of conservation of information as formulated by Leonard Susskind and others, which seems to me at first glance to be incompatible with the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
Per the principle of conservation…
Alexander S King
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What is the relationship between the scientific experimental method and the two espistemologies of empiricism and rationalism
What is the (historical and theoretical) relationship between the scientific experimental method and the two espistemologies of empiricism and rationalism?
I can read here and there that the experimental method is really linked to the philosophy of…
Starckman
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Weber and Marx - Modern Culture and Dominant Culture
Not sure if this is the right forum, but this seems to be the best fit. IF there is a better forum, please direct me.
Marx and Weber are both concerned with the role of "culture" or "idea/ideology" on the material world. Obviously, Weber placing a…
Bob the Builds
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Question about Cogito, ergo sum
As far as I know Decartes tried to prove that he existed from the fact that he was thinking.
And he thought this was only proof. My question is following:
-- why is the argument brought up above, stronger, than argument like this for example, I can…
don
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Was there a "mechanist" program of early rationalists, like Descartes and Leibniz?
Leibniz and Descartes are said to put forth "mechanist philosophies," but I am having trouble identifying what "mechanist" means. Does it involve their affinity to natural science and mathematics and their focusing on providing a philosophical…
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Rationalism and Catholicism / Protestantism
How much more “incompatible” was rationalism with Catholicism compared to Protestant christianity?
Of course everyone learned in high school that the enlightenment was in direct opposition to Catholic dogma. In the 18th century it relentlessly…
viuser
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What is critical rationalism?
In the philosophy of science classical rationalism equates rationality with proof and proof with Truth.
What is the meaning of rather 'critical rationalism'? Is it the view advocated by Popper by which rationality is no more than criticism as…
L.M. Student
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Kant's refutation of empiricism
I have been told from numerous sources that Kant's arguments against empiricism basically "refuted" it, specifically the ones found in his "Critique of Pure Reason". Unfortunately, for me, reading Kant is like banging my head against a wall (i.e.,…
EleventyOne
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