<P> Rationale: "Some propositions in a particular subject area, S, are knowable by us by intuition alone; still others are knowable by being deduced from intuited propositions ." </P> <P> Generally speaking, intuition is a priori knowledge or experiential belief characterized by its immediacy; a form of rational insight . We simply just "see" something in such a way as to give us a warranted belief . Beyond that, the nature of intuition is hotly debated . </P> <P> In the same way, generally speaking, deduction is the process of reasoning from one or more general premises to reach a logically certain conclusion . Using valid arguments, we can deduce from intuited premises . </P> <P> For example, when we combine both concepts, we can intuit that the number three is prime and that it is greater than two . We then deduce from this knowledge that there is a prime number greater than two . Thus, it can be said that intuition and deduction combined to provide us with a priori knowledge--we gained this knowledge independently of sense experience . </P>

Who were the rationalists and what did they believe