1 / 25

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin. Rationalism. in its modern sense, rationalism is any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification it is a method or a theory in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and logical. Rationalism (clear reasoning).

theo
Download Presentation

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

  2. Rationalism • in its modern sense, rationalism is any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification • it is a method or a theory in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and logical

  3. Rationalism(clear reasoning) We use our existing knowledge to create new knowledge by analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, deducing, inferring (clear reasoning) The purest examples might be the fields of Logic and Math We already have considerable knowledge in our minds

  4. Common ‘Rational’ Methods • Analysis: breaking something down into its component parts. • Synthesis: combining or joining things together to form a broader, larger, more complete view or understanding. • Evaluation: rendering judgments on something, and providing reasons for those judgments. • Inference, Deduction, and Induction: using factual premises to derive conclusions.

  5. Innate Ideas/Knowledge Some rationalists believe that ideas or knowledge are already present in the human mind at birth. • The notion of causality, that all events have a cause • Notions of good and evil • Logical and mathematical truths • Metaphysical notions concerning transcendent objects like God or souls • Avoidance of hazards (such as heights or potential sources of contagious disease) • Notions of fairness and justice • Structure of language Some say “innate knowledge” was put in us by god, and some simply say it is part of our nature.

  6. A Priori Knowledge • Knowledge that is self-evident, that requires no proof or justification, that needs no experience or observation to know it is true. • All fathers have a child. • 2 + 2 = 4. • A is greater than B B is greater than C Then, A is greater than C • All bachelors are unmarried.

  7. Types of Logical Reasoning • Analysis: the separation of a whole into its component parts • Synthesis: the combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole • Evaluation: to determine the significance, worth, or condition of something, usually by careful appraisal and study • Induction: reasoning that moves from specific details and observations to the more general underlying principles or process that explains them • Deduction: reasoning typically moves from general truths to specific conclusions. • Inference: the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former

  8. Let’s practice Rationalism(Clear, analytical reasoning) Can you “reason” your way to knowledge on these questions? Click Here

  9. How did St. Anselm and St.Thomas Aquinas “prove” the existence of God? • Ontological Argument • First Cause Argument • Intelligent Design Argument

  10. Logical Fallacies “Logical fallacies” are errors in logical reasoning or errors in logical arguments. There are many, many such errors in logical reasoning. Let’s look at just a small sample.

  11. Logical Fallacies • Ad Hominem To rebut an argument by pointing out bad qualities about the person making the argument. Bill Clinton’s position that we need to restore family values in America is rediculous because the man has engaged in serial adultry.

  12. Logical Fallacies • Appeal to Common Belief To support an argument by pointing out that a large number of people believe it. Cries about global warming are grossly exaggerated. Just about everybody I work with knows that.

  13. Logical Fallacies • Appeal to Consequences To support an argument by pointing out the consequences of it being true or false. Cries about global warming are grossly exaggerated. If they were true, we would need to spend billions of dollars and radically change our lifestyles.

  14. Logical Fallacies • Cause & Effect Confusion When two things occur together, to falsely conclude that one causes the other. Parents who have short tempers often have children who act out. Clearly, parents’ temperment affects how their children behave.

  15. Logical Fallacies • False Dilemmas Constructing a situation in which one is asked (unnecessarily) to choose between two bad choices. Do you support prayer in public schools, or do you favor those atheists who are against it?

  16. Logical Fallacies • Slippery Slope To suggest that if one thing happens, then something much, much worse will likely follow it. If we let the government ban pornography, then it won’t be long before they are burning our books.

  17. Logical Fallacies • Circular Arguments An argument in which the conclusion is already contained in one of the premises. The bible says that it is inerrant. Whatever the bible says is true. Therefore, the bible is inerrant.

  18. Logical Fallacies • Straw Man Arguments Framing an opponent’s arguments in inaccurate terms that make them look weak and silly. Miguel says that he opposes a raise for faculty in these difficult economic times, but I don’t think that slashing faculty salaries is the right approach.

  19. Clear Reasoning has a Priviledged Status in Our Society • In the world and in our own society, individuals practice many, many different ways of knowing and justifying their beliefs • However, in our mainstream culture, Rationalism plays a dominant role in our major institutions: Government Political Elections Courts Law Enforcement Business Medicine Education

  20. Multiple Intelligence Types • Linguistic and verbal intelligence:good with words • Logical intelligence:good with math and logic • Spatial intelligence: good with pictures • Body/movement intelligence: good with activities • Musical intelligence:good with rhythm • Interpersonal intelligence: good with communication • Intrapersonal intelligence: good with self-knowledge • Naturalist intelligence: good with understanding the natural world

  21. What do the SAT and GRE Test?

  22. Let’s do some clear reasoning Bill Clinton was the first president of the United States.

  23. Let’s do some clear reasoning Like kindergarten, elementary, and high school education in California, post-secondary education should be paid for by tax payers and free for those who attend.

  24. Let’s do some clear reasoning The DREAM Act is a good bill that should be passed by congress and signed by the president.

  25. Rationalism Questions?

More Related