A brief outline of a Rationalist vs Christian perspective on human nature

7 Images

of man

Rationalism•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)

What do Rationalists believe about the nature of man?

Man uses and trusts REASON above anything else to

“know” things about life, to get by in life,

and to do things in life.

Reason

To figure out

To work something out

To think logically

To use your mind

To deduce

What is “reason”?

Rationalism 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)

Rene Descartes

“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)

SENSORY EXPERIENCE OF THE WORLD ALONE CANNOT BE TRUSTED

IT CAN DECEIVE OR PLAY TRICKS ON US –WHAT WE RELY MOST ON IS OUR REASON TO

HELP US WITH WHAT IS REAL.

Famous RationalistPLATO

reasonBasic Drives: Food, Lust,

Power

Spiritor Emotion

APPETITIVE PART

SPIRITED PART

Reality is LOGICAL.•All you have to do is just think

about something•Everyone has

the ability to find the logic inthings

•Reason is KING above all else

Man is Reason.He himself can work things

out.Man is a thinking thing

with the ability to logically figure out the world

Man is accountablefor his actions on the basis of

his REASON•Law (Jub-Jub trial)•Nuremburg trials

•Truth and Reconciliationcommittee