Empiricism is a philosophical theory which holds that knowledge primarily comes from sensory experience. It emphasizes the role of observation, experimentation, and experience in acquiring understanding, as opposed to relying on innate ideas or pure reason. Key tenets of empiricism include the belief that all ideas are formed from experience, and that humans are born as a “blank slate” (tabula rasa) on which knowledge is imprinted by the world around them.
Key figures in the development of empiricism include:
- John Locke – He is often considered the father of modern empiricism. Locke argued that the mind at birth is a blank slate and that all knowledge comes from experience.
- George Berkeley – He took Locke’s ideas further by emphasizing that reality itself only exists insofar as it is perceived.
- David Hume – Hume was another major empiricist, known for his skeptical approach to causality and the limits of human understanding based solely on sensory data.
Empiricism contrasts with rationalism, which asserts that knowledge is mainly derived from reasoning and innate ideas.