Rationalism
Rationalism, in the field of Epistemology, posits that we can gain knowledge through reasoning and logical thinking alone, without relying on sensory experience. Essentially, it argues that there are truths you can understand just with your mind, even without checking through your senses. For instance, you understand mathematical concepts not from feeling or sight, but purely by thinking. Thus, rationalists value intellect, logic, and deduction, standing on the belief that these tools can lead us to solid, indubitable truths.
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Rationalism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes reason and logical thinking as the primary sources of knowledge and understanding. It suggests that certain truths exist independently of sensory experience and can be discovered through intellectual deduction. Rationalists argue that the mind has inherent capabilities to grasp foundational concepts, such as mathematics or ethics, which do not require empirical evidence. This contrasts with empiricism, which relies on observation and experience. In essence, rationalism advocates that some knowledge is innate or derived from rational thought rather than solely from what we see or experience in the world.