rationalism

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ra⋅tion⋅al⋅ism

[rash-uh-nl-iz-uh

–noun

1.	the principle or habit of accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.

Philosophy.

a.	the doctrine that reason alone is a source of knowledge and is independent of experience.

b.	(in the philosophies of Descartes, Spinoza, etc.) the doctrine that all knowledge is expressible in self-evident propositions or their consequences.

3.	Theology. the doctrine that human reason, unaided by divine revelation, is an adequate or the sole guide to all attainable religious truth.

Architecture. (often initial capital letter

)

a.	a design movement principally of the mid-19th century that emphasized the development of modern ornament integrated with structure and the decorative use of materials and textures rather than as added adornment.

b.	the doctrines and practices of this movement. Compare functionalism (def. 1).

Origin:
1790–1800; rational + -ism

Related forms:

ra⋅tion⋅al⋅ist, noun

ra⋅tion⋅al⋅is⋅tic, ra⋅tion⋅al⋅is⋅ti⋅cal, adjective

ra⋅tion⋅al⋅is⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Rationalism at Amazon
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ra·tion·al·ism (rāsh'ə-nə-lĭz'əm)

Reliance on reason as the best guide for belief and action.
Philosophy The theory that the exercise of reason, rather than experience, authority, or spiritual revelation, provides the primary basis for knowledge.

ra'tion·al·ist n., ra'tion·al·is'tic adj., ra'tion·al·is'ti·cal·ly adv.

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