rationalism

Reliance on reason as the best guide for belief and action.

The theory that the exercise of reason, rather than experience, authority, or spiritual revelation, provides the primary basis for knowledge.

In general, adherence to the supremacy of reason in matters of belief or conduct, in contradistinction to the submission of reason to authority; thinking for one’s self.

In theology:

In general, the subjection of religious doctrine and Scriptural interpretation to the test of human reason or understanding; the rejection of dogmatic authority as against reason or conscience; rational latitude of religious thought or belief.

More specifically, as used with reference to the modern sehool or party of rationalists, that system of doctrine which, in its extreme form, denies the existence of any authoritative and supernatural revelation, and maintains that the human reason is of itself, and unaided by special divine inspiration, adequate to ascertain all attainable religious truth.

In metaphysics, the doctrine of a priori cognitions; the doctrine that knowledge is not all produced by the action of outward things upon the senses, but partly arises from the natural adaptation of the mind to think things that are true.

The doctrine or system of those who deduce their religious opinions from reason or the understanding, as distinct from, or opposed to, revelation.

The system that makes rational power the ultimate test of truth; — opposed to sensualism, or sensationalism, and empiricism.

The theory that the basis of knowledge is reason, rather than experience or divine revelation.