Adjacent Words

rationalism definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is acquired by reason without resort to experience
2: the theological doctrine that human reason rather than divine revelation establishes religious truth
3: the doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct [syn: rationalism, freethinking]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1827 1. reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth 2. a. a theory that reason is in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions b. a view that reason and experience rather than the nonrational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems 3. functionalism 2 • rationalist noun • rationalist or rationalistic adjective • rationalistically adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 Philos. the theory that reason is the foundation of certainty in knowledge (opp. EMPIRICISM (see EMPIRIC), SENSATIONALISM). 2 Theol. the practice of treating reason as the ultimate authority in religion. 3 a belief in reason rather than religion as a guiding principle in life. Derivatives: rationalist n. rationalistic adj. rationalistically adv.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Rationalism is the belief that your life should be based on reason and logic, rather than emotions or religious beliefs. Coleridge was to spend the next thirty years attacking rationalism.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. (Theol.) Rationalistic interpretation (of the Scriptures).

Moby Thesaurus

Buddhology, Mariolatry, Mariology, Mercersburg theology, apologetics, canonics, crisis theology, deduction, deductive reasoning, demonstration, dialogical theology, discourse, discourse of reason, discursive reason, divinity, doctrinalism, doctrinism, dogmatics, eschatology, existential theology, hagiography, hagiology, hierology, induction, inductive reasoning, logical thought, logos Christology, logos theology, natural theology, neoorthodox theology, neoorthodoxy, patristic theology, phenomenological theology, philosophy, physicotheology, proof, ratiocination, rationality, rationalization, rationalizing, reason, reasonableness, reasoning, religion, scholastic theology, secularism, sophistry, soteriology, specious reasoning, sweet reason, systematics, theology