rationalismu

Rationalism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the role of reason in human knowledge and understanding. It posits that reason is the primary source of knowledge and that it can be used to discover truths about the world. Rationalism emerged in the 17th century as a reaction against empiricism, which holds that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience.

Rationalists argue that certain truths, such as those of mathematics and logic, can be known a priori, that is, independently of experience. They often cite the work of René Descartes as a foundational text, where he famously declared "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am), asserting the existence of the self through the act of thinking.

Key figures in the development of rationalism include René Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Rationalism has had a significant influence on Western philosophy, particularly in the areas of epistemology (theory of knowledge) and metaphysics. It has also been influential in the development of modern science, as it provided a philosophical foundation for the use of reason in the pursuit of knowledge.

However, rationalism has also faced criticism, particularly from empiricists who argue that knowledge is primarily derived from sensory experience. Some rationalists have responded by arguing that reason and experience are complementary sources of knowledge, rather than opposing forces. Despite these debates, rationalism remains an important and influential philosophical tradition.