irrationalism
Embracing the illogical
Irrationalism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes emotion, intuition, or will over reason as the basis for understanding reality or guiding human action.
It rejects the Enlightenment faith that rational thought can fully explain existence or solve human problems.
The term often carries negative connotations when applied to movements or ideologies that dismiss logical argument in favor of appeals to instinct or feeling: Critics accused the regime of promoting irrationalism through its cult of personality.
Rejection of objective meaning
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- absurdismPhilosophy embracing existence's irrationality
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
skepticism · romanticism · vitalism · voluntarism · phenomenology · solipsism · pragmatism · subjectivism
Restricting access to knowledge
- philistinismContempt for cultural refinement
- populismPolitics favoring ordinary citizens
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
superstition · prejudice · bias · closed-mindedness · anti-science · credulity · fanaticism · zealotry
Intense emotional drive
- impulseSudden urge to act
- sentimentFelt attitude or view
- desireIntense wanting
- fearEmotional response to threat
anger · love · hate · anxiety · despair · ecstasy · fervor · obsession
Innate behavioral tendency
- hunchUnproven inner sense
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
subliminal · innate · visceral · presentiment · foreboding · inkling · impression · feeling
Belief in supernatural forces
- esotericismStudy of hidden teachings
- spiritualismCommunion with the deceased
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
- gnosticismPrivileging inner revelation
hermeticism · kabbalah · shamanism · alchemy · divination · transcendence · numinous · revelation
nihilism
Rejection of objective meaning
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- absurdismPhilosophy embracing existence's irrationality
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
postmodernism · skepticism · romanticism · vitalism · voluntarism · phenomenology · solipsism · pragmatism · subjectivism · intuitionism
obscurantism
Restricting access to knowledge
- philistinismContempt for cultural refinement
- populismPolitics favoring ordinary citizens
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
fundamentalism · superstition · prejudice · bias · closed-mindedness · anti-science · credulity · fanaticism · zealotry · unreason
passion
Intense emotional drive
fear · anger · love · hate · anxiety · despair · ecstasy · fervor · obsession · hysteria
instinct
Innate behavioral tendency
- hunchUnproven inner sense
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
unconscious · subliminal · innate · visceral · presentiment · foreboding · inkling · impression · feeling · sense
occultism
Belief in supernatural forces
- esotericismStudy of hidden teachings
- spiritualismCommunion with the deceased
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
gnosticism · hermeticism · kabbalah · shamanism · alchemy · divination · transcendence · numinous · revelation · gnosis
irrationalismrationalism
Reason as knowledge source
rationality · empiricism · reason · scientism · intellectualism
irrationalismrationality
Sound judgment quality
reasonableness · logic · systematic thinking · deliberation · prudence