rationalism

noun
UK: /ˈræʃənəlɪzəm/
US: /ˈræʃənəlɪzəm/

  1. The belief that reason and logical thinking are the most important ways of understanding things.

    1. Rationalism supports decisions based on facts, not just feelings, in politics.
    2. The core of rationalism in philosophy is that knowledge comes from reasoning, not only experience.

  2. The practice of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.

    1. Rationalism promotes clear arguments over emotional appeals during debates.
    2. The rise of rationalism challenged the traditional authority of the church in society.

Synonyms

reason logic intellectualism

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "rationalism" in English means: The belief that reason and logical thinking are the most important ways of understanding things., The practice of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response..

The phonetic transcription of "rationalism" is /ˈræʃənəlɪzəm/ in British English and /ˈræʃənəlɪzəm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "rationalism": reason, logic, intellectualism.

Example usage of "rationalism": "Rationalism supports decisions based on facts, not just feelings, in politics.". More examples on the page.