Empiricism
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion." -- An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding |
![This page Empiricism is part of the science pages. Illustration: Diagram of the human mind, from Utriusque cosmi maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, page 217[1] by Robert Fludd](/Image:Diagram_of_the_human_mind%2C_from_Robert_Fludd_%281574-1637%29%2C_Utriusque_cosmic_maioris_scilicet_et_minoris_metaphysica.jpg)
Illustration: Diagram of the human mind, from Utriusque cosmi maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, page 217[1] by Robert Fludd
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In philosophy generally, empiricism (from Ancient Greek ἐμπειρία (empeiría, “experience”)) is an epistemological concept, or a theory of knowledge, emphasizing the role of experience and evidence, especially sensory perception, in the formation of ideas, while discounting the notion of innate ideas.
In the philosophy of science, empiricism is a theory of knowledge which emphasizes those aspects of scientific knowledge that are closely related to evidence, especially as formed through deliberate experimental arrangements. It is a fundamental requirement of scientific method that all hypotheses and theories must be tested against observations of the natural world, rather than resting solely on a priori reasoning, intuition, or revelation. Hence, science is considered to be methodologically empirical in nature.
The term "empiricism" has a dual etymology. It comes from the Greek word εμπειρισμός, the Latin translation of which is experientia, from which we derive the word experience. It also derives from a more specific classical Greek and Roman usage of empiric, referring to a physician whose skill derives from practical experience as opposed to instruction in theory.
See also
- Empirical formula
- Empirical knowledge
- Empirical method
- Empirical relationship
- Empirical research
- Empirical validation
- History of scientific method
- Inquiry
- Instrumentalism
- Logical positivism
- Naturalism
- Objectivity
- Peirce, Charles S.
- Phenomenalism
- Pragmatic maxim
- Psychological nativism
- Qualia
- Quasi-empirical method
- Rationalism
- Scientific method
- Sextus Empiricus
- Two Dogmas of Empiricism
