Views of Knowledge-Views of Knowledge-RationalismRationalism

RationalismRationalism

RationalismRationalism- The - The belief that reason, belief that reason, without the aid of without the aid of sensory perception, is sensory perception, is capable of arriving at capable of arriving at some knowledge, or some knowledge, or undeniable truthsundeniable truths

Rationalism’s ClaimsRationalism’s ClaimsWe do not rely on We do not rely on sensory experience for sensory experience for some of the some of the fundamental knowledge fundamental knowledge we havewe have

Some of our knowledge Some of our knowledge depends solely on our depends solely on our mental processesmental processes

Ex. Mathematicians Ex. Mathematicians use only a pencil, paper use only a pencil, paper and reasonand reason

““A Priori” Knowledge A Priori” Knowledge ““A priori” knowledge-A priori” knowledge- underlies our understanding underlies our understanding of the universe; knowledge of the universe; knowledge obtained before/without the obtained before/without the sensessenses

All other knowledge depends All other knowledge depends on “A priori” knowledgeon “A priori” knowledge

Most rationalists agree that Most rationalists agree that some some knowledge is obtained knowledge is obtained through the senses, but through the senses, but contend that knowledge can contend that knowledge can also be acquired through also be acquired through reason alonereason alone

Eastern PhilosophyEastern PhilosophyShankara (788-822)Shankara (788-822)

Concept of Concept of “sublation“sublation”-”-the process of correcting the process of correcting an error about reality an error about reality when it is contradicted by when it is contradicted by a different, more correct a different, more correct understanding of realityunderstanding of reality

Mirages, dreams and Mirages, dreams and hallucinations are hallucinations are corrected by the sensescorrected by the senses

Ultimate reality is Ultimate reality is BrahmanBrahman

Other RationalistsOther Rationalists

PlatoPlato

St. AugustineSt. Augustine

Rene DescartesRene Descartes

Anne ConwayAnne Conway

Benedict SpinozaBenedict Spinoza

Gottfried LeibnizGottfried Leibniz

George HegelGeorge Hegel

Descartes: Doubt and ReasonDescartes: Doubt and ReasonDescartes Descartes experienced experienced “disillusionment” “disillusionment” because of the because of the turbulent times in turbulent times in which he livedwhich he lived

(Protestant Revolution, (Protestant Revolution, Church beliefs cast Church beliefs cast into doubt, Copernicus into doubt, Copernicus & Galileo challenged & Galileo challenged religious/scientific religious/scientific truthstruths

Descartes: Doubt & ReasonDescartes: Doubt & Reason

He had trouble trusting anything and He had trouble trusting anything and began to systematically doubt everythingbegan to systematically doubt everythingThe only truth left was that he existsThe only truth left was that he existsDescartes: All genuine knowledge is Descartes: All genuine knowledge is derived solely from reason without the aid derived solely from reason without the aid of the sensesof the sensesDescartes used reason alone to explain Descartes used reason alone to explain the existence of God, the outer world, his the existence of God, the outer world, his own body and other individualsown body and other individuals

Descartes’ DistinctionsDescartes’ Distinctions

We know what things are by “intuition”, or We know what things are by “intuition”, or perception of the mind, but our perception of the mind, but our perceptions can either be perceptions can either be confusedconfused or or clear and distinctclear and distinct

CLEAR= know the nature/essence so well CLEAR= know the nature/essence so well we can identify itwe can identify it

DISTINCT= can distinguish it from other DISTINCT= can distinguish it from other thingsthings

Innate IdeasInnate Ideas

How does the mind arrive How does the mind arrive at knowledge without at knowledge without using the senses? using the senses?

““Innate ideas”-ideas present Innate ideas”-ideas present from birthfrom birth

Examples of innate ideas- Examples of innate ideas- basic principles of logic, basic principles of logic, math & science; both math & science; both propositions and propositions and conceptsconcepts

Propositions/ConceptsPropositions/Concepts

PropositionProposition

The shortest distance between 2 points is a The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight linestraight line

Every event has a causeEvery event has a cause

Nothing comes from nothingNothing comes from nothing

ConceptsConcepts

Point, line, straightPoint, line, straight

All these cannot be observed, so they must All these cannot be observed, so they must come from the mind!come from the mind!

Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716)Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716)Leibniz-the mind at birth Leibniz-the mind at birth has inclinations, has inclinations, tendencies to form tendencies to form ideas- as people mature, ideas- as people mature, these tendencies turn these tendencies turn into fully formed ideasinto fully formed ideas

Objections to RationalismObjections to Rationalism

How can we have knowledge in our minds How can we have knowledge in our minds if we are not aware of it? if we are not aware of it?

Isn’t to know something to believe it? Isn’t to know something to believe it?

How can we believe something without How can we believe something without being aware of it? being aware of it?