empiricism
Learning through observation
Empiricism is the philosophical position that knowledge comes from sensory experience rather than innate ideas or pure reason.
The doctrine holds that we learn about the world through observation and experiment, not through armchair speculation.
Empiricism underlies the scientific method and opposes rationalism, which trusts reason over experience.
British empiricism shaped Enlightenment thought.
Theory of knowledge
- LockeEnglish empiricist philosopher's surname
- HumeScottish Enlightenment philosopher
- BerkeleyBay Area university city
- positivismPhilosophy demanding verifiable evidence
tabula rasa · naturalism · materialism · Vienna Circle · Mill · Bacon
Systematic testing of ideas
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- hypothesis testingStatistical method for evaluating claims
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- scientific methodStructured process for investigation
induction · falsifiability · measurement · replicability · control group · variable · quantitative · qualitative
Facts for analysis
- proofDemonstration of truth
- factsVerifiable pieces of truth
- verificationProving something accurate
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
corroboration · demonstration · documentation · substantiation · specimen · sample · artifact · exhibit
Perceived stimulus or phenomenon
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- firsthandWithout intermediary
learning · encountering · trial and error · discovery · exploration · sensory · phenomenal · acquaintance
Involving direct physical engagement
- real-worldExisting in physical reality
- appliedPut into practice
- pragmaticFocused on workable solutions
- concreteSolid building mixture
tangible · functional · workable · down-to-earth · grounded · actionable · utilitarian · praxis
epistemology
Theory of knowledge
- LockeEnglish empiricist philosopher's surname
- HumeScottish Enlightenment philosopher
- BerkeleyBay Area university city
positivism · tabula rasa · naturalism · materialism · Vienna Circle · Mill · Bacon
experimentation
Systematic testing of ideas
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- hypothesis testingStatistical method for evaluating claims
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
scientific method · induction · falsifiability · measurement · replicability · control group · variable · quantitative · qualitative · fieldwork
data
Facts for analysis
- proofDemonstration of truth
- factsVerifiable pieces of truth
- verificationProving something accurate
confirmation · corroboration · demonstration · documentation · substantiation · specimen · sample · artifact · exhibit · testimony
sensation
Perceived stimulus or phenomenon
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- observationAttentive watching or remark
firsthand · learning · encountering · trial and error · discovery · exploration · sensory · phenomenal · acquaintance
hands-on
Involving direct physical engagement
- real-worldExisting in physical reality
- appliedPut into practice
- pragmaticFocused on workable solutions
concrete · tangible · functional · workable · down-to-earth · grounded · actionable · utilitarian · praxis · experiential
rationalism
Reason as knowledge source
Kant · Leibniz · Spinoza · nativism · idealism · intuition · pure reason
- philosophy & artaesthetics, ethics, logic, metaphysics, sculpture
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- inquiryinquiry, investigation, questioning, examination, exploration
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- reasoningreasoning, reason, logic, inference, deductive
- Ideasidealism, materialism, rationalism, liberalism, conservatism
empiricismrationalism
Reason as knowledge source
nativism · idealism · intuitionism · Platonism · transcendentalism
empiricismspeculation
Unproven theorizing or risky investment
theorizing · dogmatism · authoritarianism · scholasticism · armchair philosophy
empiricismrationalism
Reason as knowledge source
metaphysics · armchair philosophy · scholasticism · essentialism · foundationalism