rationalistic
Grounded in logic
Rationalistic describes an approach that emphasizes reason and logic over emotion, faith, or tradition.
Someone with a rationalistic worldview trusts systematic thinking and evidence rather than intuition or revelation: His rationalistic temperament made him skeptical of religious claims.
The term sometimes carries a faint suggestion of coldness or excessive reliance on intellect at the expense of other ways of knowing.
French Enlightenment satirist
- DiderotPhilosopher who assembled comprehensive knowledge
- RousseauFrench surname, philosopher or painter
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
Montesquieu · deism · anticlericalism · freethought · progressivism · liberalism · autonomy · cosmopolitanism
Understood facts and skills
- justificationReason proving rightness
- foundationalismKnowledge rests on basics
- certaintyTotal absence of doubt
- DescartesCogito ergo sum's author
Spinoza · Leibniz · cogito · intuition · demonstration · systematization · self-evidence · deductive
Conclusion from premises
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- theoremDemonstrated logical conclusion
proof · proposition · validity · premise · formalism · calculus · lemma · corollary
Low temperature state
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- reductiveOversimplifying complex matters
- overconfidentExcessively sure of oneself
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
scientism · hubris · abstract · impersonal · mechanical · arid · soulless · disenchantment
Lack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- incredulityInability to accept something
- debunkingProving claims false
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
disbelief · uncertainty · suspension · challenge · refutation · counterargument · dismissive · demystification
Voltaire
French Enlightenment satirist
- DiderotPhilosopher who assembled comprehensive knowledge
- RousseauFrench surname, philosopher or painter
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
Montesquieu · humanism · deism · anticlericalism · freethought · progressivism · liberalism · autonomy · cosmopolitanism · egalitarianism
knowledge
Understood facts and skills
- justificationReason proving rightness
- foundationalismKnowledge rests on basics
- certaintyTotal absence of doubt
Descartes · Spinoza · Leibniz · cogito · intuition · demonstration · systematization · self-evidence · deductive · indubitable
deduction
Conclusion from premises
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
theorem · proof · proposition · validity · premise · formalism · calculus · lemma · corollary · postulate
cold
Low temperature state
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- reductiveOversimplifying complex matters
- overconfidentExcessively sure of oneself
dismissive · scientism · hubris · abstract · impersonal · mechanical · arid · soulless · disenchantment · technocratic
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- incredulityInability to accept something
- debunkingProving claims false
scrutiny · disbelief · uncertainty · suspension · challenge · refutation · counterargument · dismissive · demystification
rationalisticirrational
Lacking sound judgment
faith-based · illogical · mystical · unreasoning · empiricist
rationalisticemotional
Showing strong feelings
romantic · sentimental · intuitive · passionate · impulsive