Rationalism

Rationalism refers to two related, but distinct, philosophies.

• Continental Rationalism, a belief that reason is the source of all knowledge in contrast to the experience of the senses.
• The Rationalist movement, which asserts that reason and evidence should be held superior to religious teachings. This can also be extended to assert a general superiority of reason, for example over emotion.

In everyday modern discussion the term rationalism almost certainly refers to the latter position, whereas Continental Rationalism is relatively unknown by non-philosophers.