Meanings
plural rationalisms
- countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe theory that knowledge may be derived by deductions from a priori concepts (such as axioms, postulates or earlier deductions).
- countableuncountableA view that the fundamental method for problem solving is through reason and experience rather than faith, inspiration, revelation, intuition or authority.
1 more example
The opinion opposed to mysticism in philosophy is sometimes spoken of as rationalism. Rationalism insists that all our beliefs ought ultimately to find for themselves articulate grounds. Such grounds, for rationalism, must consist of four things: (1) definitely statable abstract principles; (2) definite facts of sensation; (3) definite hypotheses based on such facts; and (4) definite inferences logically drawn.
1902, William James, “Lecture 3”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC - countableuncountableElaboration of theories by use of reason alone without appeal to experience, such as in mathematical systems.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Arabic عَقْلَانِيَّة, عَقْلِيَّة
- عَقْلَانِيَّة (ʕaqlāniyya)philosophical theory
- عَقْلِيَّة (ʕaqliyya)philosophical theory
Catalan racionalisme
- racionalismephilosophical theory
Chinese Mandarin 理性主義 /理性主义, 合理主義 /合理主义
- 理性主義 /理性主义 (lǐxìngzhǔyì)philosophical theory
- 合理主義 /合理主义 (hélǐzhǔyì)philosophical theory
- 唯理論 /唯理论 (wéilǐlùn)philosophical theory
- 純理論 /纯理论 (chúnlǐlùn)philosophical theory
Czech racionalismus
- racionalismusphilosophical theory
Dutch rationalisme
- rationalismephilosophical theory
Esperanto raciismo
- raciismophilosophical theory
Estonian ratsionalism
- ratsionalismphilosophical theory
Finnish rationalismi
- rationalismiphilosophical theory
French rationalisme
- rationalismephilosophical theory
German Rationalismus
- Rationalismusphilosophical theory
Greek ορθολογισμός
- ορθολογισμός (orthologismós)philosophical theory
Hebrew רַצְיוֹנָלִיזְם, שְׂכַלְתָּנוּת
- רַצְיוֹנָלִיזְם (ratsionalízm)philosophical theory
- שְׂכַלְתָּנוּת (skhaltanút)philosophical theory
Hindi तर्कबुद्धिवाद, बुद्धिवाद
- तर्कबुद्धिवाद (tarkabuddhivād)philosophical theory
- बुद्धिवाद (buddhivād)philosophical theory
- तर्कवाद (tarkavād)philosophical theory
Indonesian rasionalisme
- rasionalismephilosophical theory
Italian razionalismo
- razionalismophilosophical theory
Japanese 合理主義, 理性主義
- 合理主義 (gourishugi)philosophical theory
- 理性主義 (riseishugi)philosophical theory
- 合理論 (gouriron)philosophical theory
Latvian racionālisms
- racionālismsphilosophical theory
Polish racjonalizm
- racjonalizmphilosophical theory
Portuguese racionalismo
- racionalismophilosophical theory
Romanian raționalism
- raționalismphilosophical theory
Russian рационали́зм
- рационали́зм (racionalízm)philosophical theory
Spanish racionalismo
- racionalismophilosophical theory
Tamil பகுத்தறிவியம்
- பகுத்தறிவியம் (pakuttaṟiviyam)philosophical theory
Thai เหตุผลนิยม
- เหตุผลนิยมphilosophical theory
Ukrainian раціоналі́зм
- раціоналі́зм (racionalízm)philosophical theory
Yiddish ראַציאָנאַליזם
- ראַציאָנאַליזם (ratsyonalizm)philosophical theory
Cite this entry
rationalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationalism
“rationalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationalism. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rationalism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationalism.
Source: rationalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.