Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz: Continental Rationalism

Overview of Rationalism and Empiricism

Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz are often accurately portrayed as the key figures representing Continental rationalism. Continental rationalism is characterized by the belief that truth can be deduced from human reason, and that certain innate, or self-evident, ideas form the basis for such knowledge. In contrast, British empiricism held that the source of knowledge could be found in experience and through the senses. While the works of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz contain significant differences, they share common beliefs in: (1) reason as the ultimate source of knowledge, (2) Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason, and (3) the idea that knowledge must come from self-evident, a priori truths. The belief in innate principles or ideas characterized the work of all three philosophers, and is perhaps best illustrated through their shared belief in the idea of a deity.

Continental rationalism argues essentially that the ultimate source of knowledge can be found within human reason. Further, it argues that truth can be deduced from our innate ideas, and mathematical proof ultimately became the model for rationalist investigation. This philosophical movement began in the 17th century with the work of René Descartes and spread through continental Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many philosophers who adopted Descartes' theories, or incorporated his ideas into Calvinist theology, were termed Cartesians. In contrast, Benedict Spinoza and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz each adopted Descartes' ideas and developed their own views within his overarching theme of human reason as the ultimate source of knowledge (The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy; Solomon).

The primary philosophical rival to Continental rationalism was British empiricism. Commonly seen as founded by philosopher John Locke, British empiricism argues that knowledge comes through the senses or experience, and that problems should be investigated through the inductive method developed by Francis Bacon (The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Empiricists disagree with rationalists who believe that reason is itself a source of knowledge, and they seek to explain what rationalists attribute to reason in terms of experience. Often, empiricists regard skepticism as the best alternative to rationalism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

Interestingly, the traditional distinction between empiricism and rationalism has been challenged in recent years. Contemporary historians like Louis Loeb argue that the content of the metaphysical and epistemological positions of specific philosophers should take precedence over their specific adherence to either the empiricist or rationalist camp (The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

Works Cited

Descartes, Rene. Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy. Prentice Hall, 1960.

Hauptli, Bruce W. Continental Rationalism Characterized. [University], 2003. 08 November 2004.

Liebniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. Discourse on Metaphysics and the Monadology. Prometheus Books, 1992.

Solomon, Robert C. Continental Philosophy Since 1750: The Rise and Fall of the Self (History of Western Philosophy, No. 7). Oxford University Press, 1988.

Spinoza, Benedictus De. The Ethics; Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect; Selected Letters. Hackett Publishing Company, 1991.

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Rationalism vs. Empiricism. 08 November 2004. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/#1.1

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2001. Continental Rationalism.