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.

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)

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We already haveconsiderable

knowledgein our minds

We use our existingknowledge to

create new knowledge by

analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, deducing,

inferring (clear reasoning)

The purestexamples might be the fields ofLogic and Math

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.

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. Also called “axiomatic” knowledge.

• All fathers have a child.• 2 + 2 = 4.• A is greater than B

B is greater than CThen, A is greater than C

• All bachelors are unmarried.

Common ‘Rational’ Methods

• 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

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Let’s practice Rationalism(Clear, analytical reasoning)

Can you “reason” your way to knowledge

on these questions?

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How did St. Anselm and St.Thomas Aquinas “prove” the existence of God?

• Ontological Argument

• First Cause Argument

• Intelligent Design Argument

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.

For Rationalists, “logic” is the fundamental pathway to clear reasoning, and to knowledge.

Logical Fallacies

• Non-Sequitur Fallacy

When a conclusion does not logically follow from the foregoing points.

The exchange student, Ki-Nam, was very reserved, so I guess visiting Korea wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun.

Logical Fallacies

• Ad Hominem Fallacy

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.

Logical Fallacies

• Appeal to Common Belief Fallacy

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.

Logical Fallacies

• Appeal to Consequences Fallacy

To support or rebut 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.

Logical Fallacies

• False Dilemma Fallacy

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?

Logical Fallacies

• Cause & Effect Confusion Fallacy

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.

Logical Fallacies

• Slippery Slope Fallacy

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.

Logical Fallacies

• Circular Argument Fallacy

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.

Logical Fallacies

• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

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.

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

If we legalize marijuana, it won’t be long before we have a society full of heroin addicts to deal with.

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

President Obama wants all US residents to be provided free education through the community college level. Great! Isn’t he the same one who destroyed our health care system by socializing it, too?

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

In retaliation for Al-Qaeda’s 9-11 attack on the Twin Towers from its bases in Afghanistan, the United States invaded Iraq.

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

In Presidential Debates, it’s a good idea to limit participation to just the major party candidates because the public doesn’t really know about or care about the minor party candidates.

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

God must exist! If God did not exist, then all basis for morality would be lost and the world would be a horrible place!

Logical Fallacies• Non-Sequitur Fallacy• Ad Hominem Fallacy• Appeal to Common Belief

Fallacy• Appeal to Consequences

Fallacy• Cause & Effect Confusion

Fallacy• False Dilemma Fallacy• Slippery Slope Fallacy• Circular Argument Fallacy• Straw Man Argument Fallacy

The universe could not have been created from nothing, so it must have been created by an intelligent life force.

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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 ElectionsCourts Law EnforcementBusiness Medicine

Education

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

What do the SAT and GRE Test?

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Let’s do some clear reasoning

What would be the one best way to improve the quality of student life on the CSUMB campus?

Let’s do some clear reasoning

Should downloading music be illegal?

NoArtists and their labels make plenty of money off of concerts, tshirts, etc, losing a few extra dollars because someone downloaded a song instead of buying it will not break them. Odds are, the people downloading the music had no intention of ever buying the CD in the first place. They downloaded it because it was available to them, if it wasn't, they would have never bought it and the artist would be missing that extra dollar and a possible new fan.

YesA $9.99 purchase from iTunes nets the artist 0.94 cents. Itunes gets $3.70 and the record company gets $5.35. A musician needs to sell 12,399 songs on iTunes a month to make the wages of a McDonalds employee. That is .09 cents for each individual song. Streaming music instead? Listeners on Spotify would have to stream a song 4,053,110 times for an artist to earn a salary equal to minimum wage.

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RationalismQuestions?