For you who want to know a little more about the philosophical current that seeks to explain the truth, we have created a collection of free books on rationalism in PDF format.
Rationalism promotes and sustains the self-sufficiency of reason to explain reality in a deductive way; it is a philosophical current that sponsors the primacy of reason to know the truth.
This current began in the 17th century and the philosopher of French origin, René Descartes, is its main exponent; the movement, besides placing the problem of knowledge among the main themes, also emphasized the relationship between mind and body.
The most prominent representatives of this philosophical current lived in Germany, France, and other regions of Europe, and represented the opposition to the empiricism that emerged in England.
To learn the most relevant details of this current that marked a before and after in world history, you can consult the more than 20 materials between books and free articles on rationalism in PDF format that we share with you in this section.
Rationalism Books
#1 Critique of Rationalism in the Epistemology of Modality
Extension: PDF | 263 pages
Critique of Rationalism in the Epistemology of Modality by Heejin Kwon analyzes rationalism concerning metaphysical possibility, focusing on Bealer's and Chalmers's views. This thesis contributes to the debate, arguing that a priori conceivability does not guarantee metaphysical possibility.
#2 Rationalism
Extension: PDF | 130 pages
Rationalism by R.A. Jahagirdar presents a collection of essays exploring rationalism, its historical figures, and its societal impact. This PDF offers valuable insights into critical thinking and its application to social progress, making it a compelling read.
#3 Conviction, Priority, and Rationalism in Aristotle’s Epistemology
Extension: PDF | 32 pages
Conviction, Priority, and Rationalism in Aristotle’s Epistemology por Marc Gasser-Wingate argues against rationalist interpretations of Aristotle's epistemology, emphasizing the role of experience. This paper challenges traditional views and offers a fresh perspective on Aristotle's understanding of scientific knowledge.
#4 Aristotle on Practical Rationality – Deliberation, Preference-Ranking, and the Imperfect Decision-Making of Women
Extension: PDF | 238 pages
Aristotle on Practical Rationality - Deliberation, Preference-Ranking, and the Imperfect Decision-Making of Women por Van Tu explores Aristotle's views on practical reason and its application in decision-making. It offers a critical analysis of his theories, particularly concerning women's deliberative capacities, making it valuable for understandi...
#5 The rise of Western rationalism – Paul Feyerabend’s story
Extension: PDF | 31 pages
The rise of Western rationalism - Paul Feyerabend’s story por John Preston analyzes Feyerabend's perspective on the development of Western rationalism, contrasting it with Karl Popper's views. This PDF delves into the historical roots and critiques of rationalism, offering valuable insights into the philosophy of science.
#6 Rationality and Psychology in International Politics
Extension: PDF | 31 pages
Rationality and Psychology in International Politics por Jonathan Mercer explores the intricate relationship between rationality and psychology, challenging the notion that psychology solely explains deviations from rationality. This thought-provoking analysis reconsiders fundamental concepts in international relations, offering valuable insights f...
#7 Against rationalism
Extension: PDF | 27 pages
Against rationalism by Michael Rosen argues against a specific conception of rationality within Western thought, focusing on its implications for human action and well-being. It offers a valuable critique of rationalism, challenging conventional assumptions about human nature and providing alternative perspectives for understanding rationality.
#8 Rationalism
Extension: PDF | 23 pages
Rationalism por Thomas Kader explores the metaphysics of rationalism, contrasting it with empiricism through the lens of thinkers like Descartes, Locke, and Leibniz. This paper is a valuable resource for understanding the foundations of rational thought and its implications for knowledge and reality.
#9 Three kinds of moral rationalism
Extension: PDF | 19 pages
Three kinds of moral rationalism by Michael Smith explores moral rationalism through the lens of moral facts entailing facts about moral reasons. It argues for a superior formulation of the doctrine, offering insights into moral knowledge and external challenges, making it a valuable read for those interested in ethics.
#10 Aristotle’s Rationalism – A Reply to Barnes
Extension: PDF | 16 pages
Aristotle's Rationalism - A Reply to Barnes por Yassaman Hoshyar examines Aristotle's epistemological stance, debating whether he aligns with Rationalism or Empiricism. It analyzes key Aristotelian concepts like innate ideas and intuition, inviting readers to reconsider Aristotle's place in the history of philosophy.
#11 What Is Rational Psychology? Toward a Modern Mental Philosophy (Article)
Extension: PDF | 10 pages
What Is Rational Psychology? Toward a Modern Mental Philosophy (Article) por Jon Doyle introduces rational psychology as a mathematical approach to understanding the conceptual foundations of psychology. It highlights the potential for this approach to unify and advance specialized inquiries within the mental sciences.
#12 Rationalism (Article)
Extension: PDF | 9 pages
Rationalism (Article) por Peter J. Markie provides a concise overview of rationalism as a philosophical concept, contrasting it with empiricism. Explore the core tenets of rationalism, including the role of reason, innate ideas, and intuition, making it a valuable resource for understanding this influential school of thought.
#13 Rationalism – At the cross-roads of historical and systematic reflection (Article)
Extension: PDF | 9 pages
Rationalism - At the cross-roads of historical and systematic reflection (Article) por Danie F.M. Strauss explores rationalism's roots and systematic implications, contrasting it with empiricism and examining its relationship with universality and individuality. The article offers a nuanced understanding of rationalism by distinguishing between con...
#14 Plato’s theory of Love – Rationality as Passion (Article)
Extension: PDF | 9 pages
Plato’s theory of Love - Rationality as Passion (Article) por Lydia Amir offers a comprehensive exploration of Plato's theory of love, contrasting popular notions with its philosophical depth. It examines the role of rationality and emotion in love, providing insights into contemporary relationship challenges.
#15 The Influence of the Rationalist Philosophy of Plato, Aristotle and the Roman Stoics on the Western Political Tradition (Article)
Extension: PDF | 5 pages
The Influence of the Rationalist Philosophy of Plato, Aristotle and the Roman Stoics on the Western Political Tradition (Article) por Dr W B Vosloo explores the enduring impact of classical rationalist thought on Western political systems. It provides a concise overview of key philosophical concepts and their historical influence.
Books of the Main Authors of Rationalism
Among the main authors of rationalism, we find René Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, and Gottfried Leibniz. Descartes is known for his famous phrase “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am), which summarizes his search for an indubitable truth through the method of doubt.
Spinoza, for his part, developed ethics based on the idea that God and nature are the same, and Leibniz proposed the existence of a fundamental unity that explains the harmony of the universe.
If you are interested in deepening your knowledge of rationalist philosophy, we invite you to enjoy the free books and articles of the main authors of this current.
#1 Meditations On First Philosophy
Extension: PDF | 35 pages
Meditations On First Philosophy por René Descartes es una obra fundacional del racionalismo que explora la duda metódica para establecer verdades indudables. A través de argumentos lógicos y reflexiones profundas, Descartes sienta las bases para una nueva forma de conocimiento basada en la razón.
#2 A Discourse On Method
Extension: PDF | 56 pages
A Discourse On Method by René Descartes is a cornerstone of rationalist philosophy, outlining his method for attaining truth through reason. This PDF presents Descartes' quest for certainty and offers a valuable insight into the foundations of modern thought.
#3 The Ethics
Extension: PDF | 143 pages
The Ethics by Benedict de Spinoza meticulously dissects the nature of reality, God, and human emotions through a rigorous, axiomatic framework. This masterpiece provides a foundation for rationalist thought and offers insights into achieving intellectual clarity and freedom.
#4 On the improvement of understanding
Extension: PDF | 54 pages
On the improvement of understanding by Benedict de Spinoza explores the nature of knowledge and how to achieve clear and distinct ideas. It offers a method for improving understanding, distinguishing truth from falsehood, and ultimately attaining intellectual perfection, a foundational text for rationalist thought.
#5 The Monadology
Extension: PDF | 19 pages
The Monadology by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz presents a foundational philosophical treatise on monads, simple substances that constitute reality. Exploring perception, appetition, and the pre-established harmony, it's a vital read for understanding Leibniz's rationalist metaphysics.
#6 Human Understanding
Extension: PDF | 894 pages
New Essays Concerning Human Understanding by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz provides a deep dive into rationalist philosophy. It presents Leibnitz's detailed critique of Locke's empiricism, exploring innate ideas, knowledge, and language. A must-read for understanding the foundations of rationalism.
Epistemology Books
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge and how it is acquired, validated, and justified. The relationship between rationalism and epistemology is close, since both deal with the question of knowledge.
Rationalism holds that actual knowledge is attained through reason, while epistemology seeks to understand the processes involved in the acquisition of knowledge and its validation.
If you are interested in delving deeper into the subject of epistemology and discovering the different philosophical currents that have dealt with it, we invite you to enjoy our complete section of free epistemology books.
Logic Books
Rationalism and logic are closely related since both are concerned with reason and reasoning. Rationalism holds that reason is the primary source of actual knowledge, and logic is concerned with the study of the processes and laws governing valid rationale.
Logic is a discipline concerned with the study of the processes and laws governing valid reasoning. In this sense, logic is a fundamental tool for rationalism, since it allows validation of the assertions made through reasoning.
If you are interested in deepening the relationship between rationalism and logic, we invite you to discover the free logic books and articles that we bring for you.
#1 Logic and Commonsense Reasoning
Extension: PDF | 152 pages
Logic and Commonsense Reasoning por Guillaume Aucher offers a comprehensive overview of logic, uncertainty, and commonsense reasoning. It's an invaluable resource for understanding philosophical logic concepts and their application in AI.
#2 Introduction to Philosophy – Logic
Extension: PDF | 106 pages
Introduction to Philosophy - Logic por Bahram Assadian, Matthew Knachel and others provides a foundational understanding of logic, crucial for philosophical reasoning. It covers formal and informal fallacies, offering essential tools for analyzing arguments effectively.
#3 Logic In Philosophy
Extension: PDF | 41 pages
Logic In Philosophy por Johan van Benthem, Amsterdam & Stanford University presents a comprehensive overview of logic's historical role and its evolving connections with philosophy. This work explores logic's impact on philosophical thought, motivating readers to delve into its rich interdisciplinary nature.
#4 Introduction: Logic, Philosophy, and Philosophical Logic (Article)
Extension: PDF | 8 pages
Introduction: Logic, Philosophy, and Philosophical Logic (Article) by Dale Jacquette offers a valuable overview of the relationship between logic and philosophy, highlighting the evolution of philosophical logic. It explores the application of logic to philosophical problems, making it a must-read for those interested in this intersection.
Metaphysical Books
Metaphysics deals with fundamental questions such as existence, reality, and the nature of things. Although rationalism and metaphysics seem divergent, they have a close relationship.
Rationalism provides a solid foundation for metaphysics by offering a systematic method for the investigation of reality. The reason is the primary tool used to explore what exists beyond what we can directly experience.
If you are interested in exploring more about metaphysics and delving into the most important philosophical debates about existence and reality, we invite you to explore our complete section of free metaphysics books.
Ethics Books
Rationalism and ethics are two areas of philosophy that are closely related. Rationalism, by emphasizing reason as the primary source of knowledge, provides a sound basis for ethics by allowing us to reason about what is right or wrong.
Rational philosophers argue that morality cannot be based on mere authority or tradition, but must be grounded in reason.
If you are interested in exploring more about ethics and delving into the most important philosophical debates about morality and human behavior, we invite you to explore our complete section of free ethics books.
Philosophy of science
Rationalism and the philosophy of science are closely related since both are concerned with the pursuit of knowledge and truth.
Rationalism emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge, while the philosophy of science is concerned with fundamental questions about the nature of science and how scientific knowledge is produced.
By using reason as the primary tool, philosophers of science can develop coherent theories and critically evaluate them. We invite you to enjoy the following books and articles on the philosophy of science in PDF format.
#1 Introduction – What is the Philosophy of Science
Extension: PDF | 19 pages
Introduction - What is the Philosophy of Science by Christopher Hitchcock introduces key philosophical methods and problems within science. It explores ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics, making it a valuable resource for understanding science's foundations.
#2 Philosophy of Science
Extension: PDF | 32 pages
Philosophy of Science por David Papineau provides a comprehensive overview of key debates and concepts in the field. It explores epistemology, metaphysics, realism, and more, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of scientific thought.
#3 Philosophy of Science – An Overview for Educators
Extension: PDF | 13 pages
Philosophy of Science - An Overview for Educators by Peter Machamer offers a foundational exploration of science's nature, rationale, and impact. It's a valuable resource for educators seeking to foster critical thinking about scientific inquiry.
#4 What is the relation between Philosophy and Science?
Extension: PDF | 25 pages
What is the relation between Philosophy and Science? by James Levine explores the historical and contemporary interplay between these disciplines. It offers valuable insights into their distinct methods and potential convergence.
Here ends our selection of free Rationalism books in PDF format. We hope you liked it and already have your next book!
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