Rationalism

Question 1

define rationalism

Answer 1

‘Reason is the chief source and test of knowledge.’ People should be allowed to learn on their own without guidance from external authorities. We learn by deducing because reality has intrinsically logical structures.

Question 2

define empiricism

Answer 2

The Blank Slate’. Humans primarily learn from experience as opposed to theorising about the world we live in.

Question 3

what does Rene Descartes believe?

Answer 3

‘Cogito Ergo Sum’ - I think therefore I am. Descartes was concerned with Epistemology AKA the theory of knowledge, how the individual can trust their experiences.

Question 4

How does Descartes idea of ‘cognito ergo sum’ relate to rationalism?

Answer 4

Descartes proposed that our experiences are trustworthy (Cogito ergo sum) and that we aren’t being deceived by an ‘evil genius’. He then links our experiences with scientific theory (testing and proving with logic). He proposed that the experiences we have can be logically deduced by ourselves if we apply scientific theory.

Question 5

how do classical liberals view rationalism?

Answer 5

All humans operate with self-interested and rational actions.

Question 6

how do modern liberals view rationalism?

Answer 6

all humans operate with rational actions