rationalismusing

Rationalismusing is a neologism used to describe a problem-solving and knowledge-formation approach that foregrounds rationalist methods. The term blends rationalism with the verb using, signaling an active practice of applying rationalist principles to real-world questions. As a concept, it is not widely standardized in philosophy but appears in online discussions and some educational contexts as a label for a thinking method rather than a dogma.

Core ideas include explicit problem definition, explicit listing of premises or assumptions, derivation of conclusions through deductive and probabilistic reasoning, and continual testing of conclusions against evidence. A rationalismusing approach stresses transparency of reasoning, traceable justification, and revision of beliefs in light of new information, along with strategies to mitigate cognitive biases through deliberate reflection.

Applications include critical thinking curricula, research design, policy analysis, software design, and personal decision making. In practice, it involves breaking tasks into small, verifiable steps, comparing competing hypotheses, and documenting the evidential support for each step and conclusion.

Relation to other ideas: it shares aims with rationalism and Bayesian inference through emphasis on justification and belief updating, while also engaging with empirical considerations. Critics argue that overreliance on formal logic can neglect uncertainty, context, and the limits of purely deductive reasoning. As a coined term, its definition and scope can vary across communities, and some observers view it as a descriptive label for a disciplined thinking process rather than a distinct doctrine.