Introduction
The diverse routes of knowledge have created controversy in the field of epistemology, with rationalism being the most viable acquisition strategy. Various philosophers have tried to explain how individuals acquire knowledge about their environment and every other aspect of living. Socrates’s pursuit of wisdom begins with discovering facts through rational inquiry (Govier,1997). He argued that individuals could find anything they desire about their surroundings by questioning everything and learning truth through research, not subjective insights. Another significant philosopher was Plato, whose contributions to the theory of knowledge are marked by the justification of reality and not a fallacy (Leuehaq, 2021). Additionally, Descartes reinforces epistemology based on the methodological approach of reason. Therefore, rationalism is a pivotal trajectory in gaining knowledge and understanding the epistemology of the world.
Historical Importance of Philosophical View
Epistemology is a philosophical branch that studies the nature of knowledge and how it is gained. The philosophy entails the investigation of knowledge’s sources and limits, its nature and structure, and its justification or validity (Govier,1997). The principle investigates the connection between perception, reality, and explanation. Epistemology has been significant, considering that it is a fundamental component that serves as a foundation for understanding and judging the universe (Govier,1997). For instance, Socrates argues that the world exists in the physical realm, meaning it can change and is not eternal. The only consistent factors are the world’s intellectual sensations, including goodness, beauty, and truth (Govier,1997). This factor indicates that intellectual discoveries are achieved by focusing on facts and uncovering the actual goodness and beauty within the object that is being analyzed for accurate conclusions. This factor suggests that epistemology and the notion of knowledge are integral in explaining how the environment influences learning.
Another integral importance of epistemology is that it lays the foundation for the diverse understanding of the sources of knowledge. The reason is that the theory examines knowledge acquisition and its source as the central focus. As such, many controversies have been encountered due to the diverse definitions of epistemology (Govier,1997). For instance, the dispute between rationalism and empiricism is one of history’s oldest and most prominent due to its distinctive description of the origin of knowledge. Descartes and other rationalists claim that knowledge can be learned solely through the application of reason (Govier,1997). Yet, empiricists contend that all knowledge is gained by experience and interaction with the environment. This dispute has raged for centuries and remains and such debates contribute to the development and expansion of different rationales intended to support a specific claim, which enhances the literature available to enhance understanding of a specific phenomenon.
Epistemology is also significant since it is closely linked to the concept of knowledge. Knowledge is a justified true belief, and epistemology studies how information is gained, justified and assessed. Therefore, individuals would be unable to evaluate the integrity of a statement or the dependability of a source of information without epistemology. For instance, although Plato and Descartes lived in different times, their contribution to understanding epistemology philosophy relates (Govier,1997). For example, Plato argues that justification of knowledge is established y reason, which Descartes concurs with by revealing that senses cannot help individuals learn about the environment considering that they are not trustworthy considering that other complex issues such as the influence of the mind affect the understanding of truth (Govier,1997). These factors indicate that epistemology has been significant in history for revealing the formation of learning and discoveries.
Philosopher’s Approaches to Epistemology
Many philosophers supported the idea that knowledge is not established through the experience of emotions but through reality. Socrates is among the philosophers whose idea of Epistemology is focused on rational inquiry. Socrates’ epistemology is inextricably linked to his concept of knowledge, meaning that learning has to be actively pursued rather than passively obtained. The philosopher believed that knowledge could be attained only through a rigorous process of inquiry and examination (Govier,1997). His thoughts were that knowing oneself and their views and ideals helps one better understand the world around them. For instance, to discover how the ecosystem works on the planet, they must search for literature that addresses that inquiry to know how each specie is dependent on the other in reality (Govier,1997). This idea indicates that people can learn about their environment through scientific investigation and not dwelling on preconceived notions which are baseless and lack depth.
Other principles created by researchers include applying concepts to discover the world. Plato’s philosophical thought is that knowledge is innate and proper understanding can only be attained through education, inquiry, and introspection. He believed knowledge was universal and could be discovered by studying philosophy, mathematics, and scientific knowledge (Govier,1997). Plato defined knowledge as more than just a collection of facts, considering that it represented an understanding of the universe’s underlying realities. For instance, learning mathematics is not acquiring knowledge, considering that gaining insights into the numerical principle is through applying concepts (Govier,1997). An example is just after people learned about numbers, they developed time to reinforce the application and appreciation of numerical data. This knowledge can be used to uncover insights into the world and its surroundings, which promotes learning.
Descartes is another influential philosopher who contributed to understanding epistemology and the notion of knowledge. Descartes’s principles support the idea of rationalism by explaining that knowledge is acquired through the methodological application of reason. Deductive reasoning about the environment is attained by exploring truths through academic inquiry (Govier,1997). The philosopher contended that all knowledge must begin with specific, undeniable facts that cannot be questioned. He believed the only way to get information was to start with the certain and then improve to establish a claim. He thought that information should be gained through conceptual insight rather than the senses, and he condemned knowledge based on incorrect preconceptions (Govier,1997). He stated that rather than relying on logic or other people’s views, a person should rely on their intellectual prowess for inquiry to achieve knowledge. This factor indicates that individuals can discover facts about their surroundings through rationalism.
Counter-Arguments
Some people can argue that epistemology and the notion of knowledge about the world can only be achieved through rationalism. The reason is that other philosophies justify other means of knowledge acquisition, such as experience. Empiricism is an epistemological concept that explains that knowledge is gained by experience (Leuehaq, 2021). It is the basis of the scientific method and one of the primary foundations of modern philosophy and science. Empiricism maintains that all knowledge is obtained from sensory experience and that sensory perception is the only source of knowledge (Leuehaq, 2021). In contrast, rationalism holds that specific knowledge can be obtained solely through reason or deductive inquiry. This viewpoint refutes other methods of inquiry such as experience, which can be contended.
Empiricism is a crucial component of knowledge since it holds that learning is obtained via experience. In other words, information is not just innate and given but must be actively sought out. This factor indicates that learning occurs through observation, experimenting, and reasoning. People acquire knowledge using their senses to explore the world and evaluate the data they collect (Leuehaq, 2021). This information is then utilized to generate hypotheses, which are assessed and validated through experimentation. For instance, individuals can learn to distinguish different flowers by differentiating their distinct scents (Leuehaq, 2021). This sensation can stimulate learning, known as empiricism, and this type of knowledge is not achieved through deductive inquiry. Therefore, knowledge can be obtained through various approaches depending on the individual’s interests and focus when studying about the ecosystem and its interactions.
Another philosophy that can restructure the idea of rationalistic knowledge is coherentism. This philosophy indicates that knowledge can be gained by correlating variables with similar properties. Coherentism’s primary argument is that beliefs can be justified by their logical relationships to other concepts (Ogaba, 2019). This factor means there is no need to rely on external proof or logic to validate a viewpoint. Instead, the belief’s coherence with different opinions is assumed adequate for its justification. This contrasts with other justification theories, such as rationalism, which maintains that ideas can only be justified if they are supported by external evidence or reason (Ogaba, 2019). The coherentism theory indicates that knowledge acquisition is established by focusing on the links between each variable or relating the concepts to an individual’s experience.
This philosophy of coherentism is also used in the concept of social constructionism, whereby knowledge is established socially in the process of discourse and information dissemination. For instance, most philosophical works have been sponsored by the results of other researchers. This factor indicates that relating different inquiries helps establish a discovery that promotes learning and understanding (Ogaba, 2019). This factor suggests that people can learn through different avenues, including through interrelating specific aspects of life with other phenomena that are relatable (Ogaba, 2019). Despite the various elements of knowledge acquisition, rationalism is still the best strategy for understanding the world around us, considering that it promotes deductive reasoning, which is justifiable. Therefore, it promotes an aspect of full exploration of materials to gather information about a specific inquiry before any insights are obtained.
Conclusion
Rationalism is a school of philosophy that maintains that reason is the fundamental source of knowledge. This philosophy, as opposed to empirical observation and experimentation, indicates that knowledge can be gained through logical deduction. Other philosophies, such as empiricism and coherentism, claim that knowledge can be achieved through experience and sensations and by relating different ideas with concepts within the environment. However, the rationalistic view establishes that knowledge focuses on abstract thought and logical reasoning, which enhance understanding. The philosophy stresses the significance of deductive reasoning, drawing specific conclusions from more general ones. Additionally, rationalists reject the concept of innate knowledge, claiming knowledge is gained by logic and analysis. Therefore, this strategy is ideal for understanding the epistemological paradigm, considering that all deductions must have proof and be justifiable by valid claims.
References
Govier, T. (1997). Socrates’ children: thinking and knowing in the western tradition. Broadview Press.
Leuehaq, T. A. (2021). Basic ideas of rationalism and empiricism and some epistemological implications. Journal of Filsafat dan Teologi, 2(2), 145-158. Web.
Ogaba, I. S. (2019). Foundationalism, coherentism, and naturalism: An epistemological survey. GNOSI: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Theory and Praxis, 2(2), 98-112. Web.