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Rationalism asserts that knowledge is best acquired by faith rather than reason and factual analysis.

True or False

User Harmanjd
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Final answer:

False, rationalism asserts that knowledge is best acquired through reason and logical analysis, not by faith. Rationalism involves understanding innate truths with the mind's reasoning capabilities, contrasting with faith-based acceptance.

Step-by-step explanation:

False, the assertion that knowledge is best acquired by faith rather than reason and factual analysis is not representative of rationalism. Rationalism is fundamentally about acquiring knowledge through reason and logical analysis. This belief system posits that there are innate truths within the human mind that can be accessed through reason without relying on sensory experiences. In contrast to rationalism, faith often relies on religious beliefs that are accepted without empirical evidence and are not necessarily subject to reason or justification in the rationalist sense.

Historically, rationalists like Plato argued for the existence of universals or forms that are known through reason alone, as opposed to experience. The 'justified true belief' account of knowledge was a widely held viewpoint until Gettier cases showed justified true belief may not be sufficient for knowledge, leading to further philosophical inquiry into the nature of knowledge and justification.

User Peter Loron
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