According to rationalism, reason is the most important tool for the generation of knowledge.
Before establishing the meaning of the term rationalism , we are going to proceed to determine its etymological origin. Thus, we can say that it is a word that derives from Latin, since it is based on the word ratio , which can be translated as "reason."
Rationalism is a movement that has reason as its pillar and support. This philosophy , which emerged in the 17th century and has manifestations in various branches of art, maintains that reasoning is the main tool for generating knowledge, leaving perception and experience in the background.
Descartes and rationalism
The French philosopher René Descartes is often cited as the father of rationalism. For Descartes , reason was the way to access universal truths from which all other knowledge of science was derived.
However, in addition to the figure of Descartes , we cannot ignore the existence of other illustrious thinkers who also advocated rationalism and who took it to its maximum expression and study. Thus, both the German Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who is considered "the last universal genius" and who carried out interesting works such as "De ars combinatoria" , and the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) stand out especially. ). He has been described by many as the "father of modern thought" and bequeathed works of great significance such as "Political Theological Treatise" or "Principles of Descartes' Philosophy." Metaphysical thoughts .
Rationalism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the 17th century.
Differences with empiricism
Empiricism , on the other hand, maintained that knowledge always derived from experience and from what was registered through the senses. It is interesting to know that it was developed especially by figures of the stature of the Scottish sociologist David Hume (1711-1776) and the English philosopher and doctor John Locke (1632-1704).
Rationalism, in this way, postulated reason as a generator of knowledge. What reason allows is to reach innate knowledge that, in some way, is hidden in the mind. For rationalists, the senses can deceive a person, but reason cannot.
Little by little, rationalism began to be associated with all those positions that put reason before experience or faith. That is why atheism is often associated with rationalism.
Rationalism in architecture
Architectural rationalism , on the other hand, is known as a branch of architecture developed at the end of the First World War , which opposed the excessive ornamentation proposed by Art Nouveau .
Architectural rationalism, in this sense, privileged simple forms and opted for dynamic constructions, made with materials such as concrete or steel .
The strong commitment to constructive detail and even the constant and permanent use of color are also two other of the main hallmarks of architectural rationalism, which had distinguished artists who developed and made it known, such as the Frenchman Le Corbusier or the Spanish Fernando García Mercadal , Rafael Bergamín or José Manuel Aizpurúa .