rationalist tradition

The rationalist tradition is a philosophical approach that emphasizes reason and intellect as the primary sources of knowledge and understanding. Rationalists believe that we can gain knowledge through logical thinking and intellectual deduction, rather than relying solely on sensory experience or empirical evidence. This tradition values clear reasoning, mathematical principles, and the innate abilities of the mind. Key figures include René Descartes and Baruch Spinoza, who argued that certain truths can be discovered independently of experience. In essence, rationalism seeks to understand the world through the lens of reason.