Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

rationalism

Definition of rationalism

noun

[mass noun]
  • the practice or principle of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response:scientific rationalism
  • Philosophy the theory that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge.
  • Theology the practice of treating reason as the ultimate authority in religion.

Derivatives

rationalist

noun

rationalistic

Pronunciation: /-ˈlɪstɪk/
adjective

rationalistically

Pronunciation: /-ˈlɪstɪk(ə)li/
adverb

rationalism in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of rationalism in the US English dictionary