Empiricism
noun
A method of learning things which involves only information that comes from experience or observation.
In science, empiricism is valued because it relies on tested and verified observations.
Often appears as...
- scientific empiricism
- empirical research
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A philosophy that states knowledge can only come from sense experience.
Empiricism, as proposed by John Locke, argues that we are born as blank slates and we gain knowledge through experience.
Often appears as...
- british empiricism
- radical empiricism
Usage tips
Philosophical
noun
A method of learning things which involves only information that comes from experience or observation.
In science, empiricism is valued because it relies on tested and verified observations.
Often appears as...
- scientific empiricism
- empirical research
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A philosophy that states knowledge can only come from sense experience.
Empiricism, as proposed by John Locke, argues that we are born as blank slates and we gain knowledge through experience.
Often appears as...
- british empiricism
- radical empiricism
Usage tips
Philosophical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Experience Based
Empiricism focuses on knowledge from direct experience rather than theories or beliefs.
His empiricism led him to disregard untested assumptions.
Pro Tip 2/3Scientific Approach
In science, empiricism is important because it requires evidence gathered through experiments.
The study's findings are rooted in empirical observation.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Speculative
Empiricism avoids speculation and bases conclusions on observable phenomena.
Their empiricism meant they didn't trust the unobserved results.
Compare with
materialismnaturalismpositivismrealismskepticism
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Video examples
David Deutsch: A new way...
And that rarely, if ever, caused anything like the scientific revolution. At the time, what they thought distinguished science was a radical idea about things unseen, known as empiricism -- all knowledge derives from the senses.
Video examples
David Deutsch: A new way...
And that rarely, if ever, caused anything like the scientific revolution. At the time, what they thought distinguished science was a radical idea about things unseen, known as empiricism -- all knowledge derives from the senses.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
William James
American Philosopher
To be radical, an empiricism must neither admit into its constructions any element that is not directly experienced, nor exclude from them any element that is directly experienced.
Quote examples
David Whyte
English Poet
There's a fierce practicality and empiricism which the whole imaginative, lyrical aspect of poetry comes from.
Quote examples
George Santayana
Spanish Philosopher
Experience seems to most of us to lead to conclusions, but empiricism has sworn never to draw them.
Quote examples
E. O. Wilson
American Scientist
Even as empiricism is winning the mind, transcendentalism continues to win the heart.
Quote examples
William James
American Philosopher
To be radical, an empiricism must neither admit into its constructions any element that is not directly experienced, nor exclude from them any element that is directly experienced.
Quote examples
David Whyte
English Poet
There's a fierce practicality and empiricism which the whole imaginative, lyrical aspect of poetry comes from.
Quote examples
George Santayana
Spanish Philosopher
Experience seems to most of us to lead to conclusions, but empiricism has sworn never to draw them.
Quote examples
E. O. Wilson
American Scientist
Even as empiricism is winning the mind, transcendentalism continues to win the heart.
Example 1 of 4
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