Empiricism
Core concepts
Distinctions
Schools of thought
Topics as well as views
Specialized domains of inquiry
Notable epistemologists
Related fields
In philosophy, empiricism is the theory that states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. it is for one of several views of epistemology, along with rationalism in addition to skepticism. Empiricism emphasizes the role of empirical evidence in the positioning of ideas, rather than innate ideas or traditions. However, empiricists may argue that traditions or customs occur due to relations of preceding sensory experiences.
Historically, empiricism was associated with the "blank slate" concept tabula rasa, according to which the human mind is "blank" at birth and develops its thoughts only through experience.
Empiricism in the philosophy of science emphasizes evidence, particularly as discovered in experiments. it is a fundamental component of the scientific method that any hypotheses and theories must be tested against observations of the natural world rather than resting solely on a priori reasoning, intuition, or revelation.
Empiricism, often used by natural scientists, says that "knowledge is based on experience" and that "knowledge is tentative and probabilistic, remanded to continued revision and falsification". Empirical research, including experiments and validated measurement tools, guides the scientific method.