Rationalism is a philosophical view that regards reason as the primary source of knowledge. Rationalists use logic and deduction to understand situations and determine what is right or wrong. In the 17th century, rationalism emerged with philosophers like Descartes who believed that everything could be explained through reason and logic alone, even going so far as to question the reliability of the senses. Descartes introduced formulas to understand life and argued that the senses can deceive us, using the example of how we perceive the size of the sun.

2. •The philosophical view that regards reason as the chief
source and test of knowledge.
•A rationalist uses logic as the chief principle in
knowledge. This means that everything we learn and
we use reason in every situation above all else.
•Our reason also ultimately provides justification for our
morals and beliefs. Reason dictates how we see and
view certain situations and our opinion of right and
wrong toward that situation.
(http://rationalistview.blogspot.com)

4. To figure
out
To work
To deduce something
out
Reason
To use To think
your mind logically

5. 17th Century
· In the years between
1601-1700, the rationalist view
was born. Beginning with
Descartes, it was the belief that
everything in the world can be
explained with logic and reason.
Descartes was a mathematical
genius and tried to apply
formulas for life. He also
introduced the idea of our
senses being figments of our
mind and that they can deceive
us. (http://rationalistview.blogspot.com)

6. “Descartes in one of his original works, Principles of
Philosophy [translated to English], believes that all the
senses deceive us. He used the example of our sight.
Stating that we see the setting sun as a roughly two-
inch wide object in the sky, but in fact, our reason tells
us that the sun is actually almost infinitely times larger
than we see it in the sky.” (http://rationalistview.blogspot.com)