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rationalism - 3 dictionary results

ra⋅tion⋅al⋅ism

  [rash-uh-nl-iz-uhm]
Use rationalism in a Sentence
–noun
1. the principle or habit of accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.
2. 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.
4. 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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ra·tion·al·ism   (rāsh'ə-nə-lĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. Reliance on reason as the best guide for belief and action.
  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Rationalism

Ra"tion*al*ism\, n. [Cf. F. rationalisme.]

1. (Theol.) The doctrine or system of those who deduce their religious opinions from reason or the understanding, as distinct from, or opposed to, revelation.

2. (Philos.) The system that makes rational power the ultimate test of truth; -- opposed to sensualism, or sensationalism, and empiricism. --Fleming.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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