World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide gods, and the creation story. These usually provide some sort of cautionary tale that centers around the abuse of the stories or myths. Some of these films are part of the genre of cyberpunk action, fantasy dramas, and apocalyptic tales. While the method of delivery has changed, there is still the pervasive and essential component of the collective imagination. Any view that appeals to reason as a source of knowledge or justification is called rationalism. The “truth” is one that is constructed by the use of intellectual and deductive reasoning rather than just the senses. There are differing degrees of emphasis on this method or theory that has led to a variety of standpoints. For example, there is the moderate position that reason has precedence over any other way of acquiring knowledge. There is a more extreme position that purports that reason is the unique path to knowledge. In pre-modern times, rationalism is identical to philosophy through the Socratic life of inquiry or the zetetic (skeptical) clear interpretation of authority. Leo Strauss has, in recent times, sought to revive “Classical Political Rationalism” and use it as a discipline that understands reasoning as maieutic, but not foundational. Rationalism is not rationality or rationalization, however. Rationalism is contrasted with empiricism. In a broad sense, these views are not mutually exclusive. A philosopher can be both a rationalist and an empiricist. In the extreme, the empiricist view is that all ideas come to us through experience, either through the external senses or through inner sensations, such as pain and gratification. Modern Scien e During the 19 th century, the Scientific Revolution established science as a source for the growth of knowledge. Science was professionalized and institutionalized. With the expansion of science in society, science became part of the nation-states. The growth of science also meant the growth of technology and innovations. One discovery breeds another discovery, drawing more individuals into the field. 9.2 Liberalism Liberalism is from the Latin “liberalis” and is a political philosophy or worldview found on the ideas of liberty and equality. Liberal individuals espouse a wide array of views. Their views depend on their understanding of the principles, but generally, they support ideas like free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property. During the Age of Enlightenment, Liberalism became a political movement and was popular among philosophers and economists in the Western world. Liberalism rejected the notions of hereditary privilege, state religion, absolute monarchy, and the divine right of kings, all of which were popular during this era. John Locke, a liberal thinker, is credited with founding Liberalism as its own philosophical tradition. Locke argued that every man had a natural right to life, liberty, and property. The social contract ©2018 Achieve Page 88 of 96