5 characteristics of Descartes' RATIONALISM

The characteristics of Descartes' rationalism are, above all, the use of Cartesian doubt, that is, doubt as a method: I think, therefore I am. But there is more! We tell you in a Teacher. René Descartes (1596-1650) constitutes andl main reference within rationalism, One of the main characteristics of his thought being to defend the value of human reason to know the truth.

Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician and physicist who is considered the father of modern philosophy. His search for universal knowledge led him to confront skepticism and affirm that only human reason is capable of achieving true knowledge.

In this lesson from unPROFESOR.com we talk to you about the Descartes' rationalism and the characteristics of his thinking.

Index

1. What is rationalism and its characteristics
2. What is the concept of rationality for Descartes?
3. What are the characteristics of Descartes' rationalism?

Before talking about the characteristics of Descartes' rationalism, let's get to know better what this branch of philosophy consists of. He rationalism is a philosophical current which is distinguished by its defense of reason as the only source of knowledge. A philosophical current of the 17th century that has in René Descartes one of its greatest exponents.

Rationalism would be characterized by these factors general:

• Reason and thought are sources of all human knowledge.
• For rationalists some knowledge is innate, that is, we are born with them, without having acquired them through learning or experience.
• They used logical-deductive methods to get to the truth.
• reality is rational and therefore knowable and explainable through universal laws.
• Aspires to create a universal science, unique and necessary.

rationalism It was not a unitary line of thought., developing different philosophical systems from the thought of Descartes. The impact of Descartes' rationalism was definitive in the history of Western philosophy.

As founder of rationalism, Descartes defended that knowledge could be achieved that was true and above all doubt. Thus, this philosopher came to the conclusion that what he really could not doubt was his own doubt, and when he doubts, he thinks and when he thinks, he exists, that is; Cogito ergo sum. Based on this principle, Descarte proposed as a method Cartesian doubt or doubt everything that was taken for granted.

Cartesian doubt, Descartes' method

The cartesian doubt has three basic characteristics:

• is methodical, that is, it is a method to reach the truth.
• Is universal because it applies to everything known.
• Is hyperbolic, that is, it takes us to the extreme of doubting everything.

The primacy of reason leads us to understand the world through a set of laws. In this way, the human being is capable of facing the understanding and mastery of nature by bending everything to reason and being able to build knowledge from mathematical regularities.

One of the characteristics of Descartes' rationalism is the use of doubt as an instrument to reach certainty. In order to build a supreme science or first philosophy, Descartes starts from the idea of ​​getting rid of all the truths and opinions considered true, to start from scratch.

Cartesian doubt is not a type of skeptical doubt, but rather that moment when it is not possible to discern between what is true and what is false. Descartes uses that doubt as an instrument to develop his philosophy.

Is a theoretical doubt, that is, it is not located at the level of beliefs or moral norms, but at the level of philosophical reflection. A universal doubt in which Descartes doubts his senses, thus nullifying the ideas acquired by the experience, of the outside world and even of his own reasoning or of himself, but he cannot doubt that he is hesitating.

In addition to this main feature, other general ideas of Descartes' rationalism are:

• The truth is subjective, but reason means that for each person the evidence is different. Thus, the truth is in the person and he grasps the truth in his own conscience.
• God exists and is perfect, something that cannot deceive us and that is why we feel that what we perceive through our senses really exists.
• In addition to knowledge, Descartes will also focus on other topics such as the relationship between body and soul, freedom or passions.
• The self-sufficiency of reason It explains reality deductively and values ​​the subject over the object.

The basis of his philosophical thought is in one of his most well-known and influential works in Western thought: The discourse on the method to conduct one's own reason well and seek the truth in the sciences (1637).

If you want to read more articles similar to Characteristics of Descartes' rationalism: summary, we recommend that you enter our category of Philosophy.

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• HERNANDEZ, Antonio. Descartes: Discourse on method. Alicante, Spain: Editorial Club Universitario, 2005.
• JIMÉNEZ-GARNICA, Edna L., et al. Theory of Knowledge: Rationalism. Con-Science Scientific Bulletin of the Preparatory School No. 3, 2019, vol. 6, not 11.
• LLINÀS, Joan Lluís. The limits of rationalism in Descartes. Soak up. An international journal of theoretical and practical reason, 2017, vol. 59, p. 11-33.
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