The Shift
From Rationalism to
Romanticism
Rationalism
• Rationalism is the theory that reason, rather
than experience, provides the primary basis
for knowledge.
– Similarly if you understand nature you will know
yourself better.
• As one gains wisdom from nature, one begins
to realize that understanding is a gate way to
the divine as well as to oneself.
Rationalism
• Rene Descartes (1596 - 1650 ) may be viewed
as the beginning of rationalist philosophy.
• He based his philosophy on doubt.
– How can I be sure that what I think is true is really
true.
• During his lifetime both the truths of religion
and the truths of science had become
uncertain.
Rationalism
• Plato and Aristotle were replaced with a new
conception of nature, man, and morality.
• From the laws of physics and astronomy,
scientists moved to develop the laws of
chemical reactions, the germ theory of
disease, and the laws of genetic evolution.
Rationalism
• Rationalism is basically the view that science
and our understanding of the social world
derived from modern science can help us to
improve the living conditions on this planet.
• A rationalist person believes they must master
their own destiny, using their unique powers
of reason and the scientific method to solve
problems.
Rationalism
• Rationalism was erected during the mid 19th
century.
• No rational argument will have a rational
effect on somebody who does not want to
adopt a rational attitude
… just incase you wanted to know
… yeah idk what that means either.
Romanticism
• ‘Lyrical Ballads’ by Wordsworth and Samuel
Taylor Coleridge in 1798 marked the beginning
of the Romantic period
• The Romantic literature of the nineteenth
century is all about concentrating on emotion
and nature.
Romanticism
• The Romantic period wanted to break away
from the traditions and conventions that were
dear to the rationalists and make way for
individuality and experimentation.
• The Romantic movement is said to have
emerged in Germany, which soon spread to
England as well as France
– The main source of inspiration for Romanticism
came from the events of the French Revolution.
Romanticism
• The poets of this time used emotion and
nature in there works
• Romantics believed that one needed to
understand nature to understand oneself.
…In other words, only through nature could one discover
who they are.
Romanticism and Rationalism
• Romanticism was a movement which was
partially brought about as a response to and
rejection of rationalism
– Rationalism was an intellectual period which argued
that reason was the basis of all authority.
• The Romantic movement stressed strong in
emotion rather than rationalism.
– Rationalism had seemingly wiped out emotion.
• Romanticism's attempt was to wipe out logic in
favor of emotions.
Romanticism and Rationalism
• Writers rejected rationalism, which had
sucked emotion from their works
• Writers in the Romantic period favored
depicting emotions.
– Some of the greatest writers of all time came from
the Romantic period and presented themes that
were anything but rational, rather they were
fantastical, wonderfully, beautifully written.
So basically what all this means…
• Romanticism and rationalism are different
• Romanticism = interesting
• Rationalism = boring
– There ya go.
Romanticism and Rationalism
• Such authors that represent these two
eras are:
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
– Henry David Thoreau
– William Wordsworth
– Charles Darwin.
That’s a look alike ->
Henry. David. Thoreau.
That’s the Real Deal
Works Cited
• Holman, C. Hugh, and William Harmon. “American Romanticism.” A
Handbook to Literature. vcu.edu, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng372/intro-h4.htm>.
• London, Scott. “The End Of Rationalism.” An Interview with John
Ralston Saul. scottlondon.com, 16 Dec. 2001. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.scottlondon.com/interviews/saul.html>.
• “Romantic Vs. Rationalist.” Free Essays. freeessays.cc, 24 Sept.
2003. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.freeessays.cc/db/18/esv225.shtml>.
• Steen, Francis F. “Empiricism vs. Rationalism.” The Debate. ucla.edu,
22 Dec. 1996. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.
<http://cogweb.ucla.edu/CogSci/Empiricism.html>.
• Whitney, Elizabeth. “English Romanticism.” The Engines of Our
Ingenuity. uh.edu, 7 Feb. 2000. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.uh.edu/engines/romanticism/>.