What Is Empiricism?
Youâve probably heard the phrase âempirical evidenceâ if you paid attention in science class. You may not remember what exactly this means, or how it relates to science or gardening.
Empiricism is an epistemological vantage which holds true that knowledge is primarily or completely gained through observation, experimentation, and sensory experience.
Empirical evidence, therefore, is evidence which one directly observes (or is observable) with their senses.
Itâs a very âlearn by doingâ / âlearn by seeing and observingâ / âlearn through experimentingâ approach to knowing.
Empiricism contrasts with other epistemological perspectives such as rationalism, idealism, positivism, reductionism, or skepticism whereby knowledge may be obtained through logic, intuition, reason, theory, mathematics, physics, etc.
In a way, empiricism is more similar to âstreet smartsâ whereas some of the contrasting views named here are more akin to âbook smartsâ, though this is a very rough metaphor [âŚ]
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