empiric

Empiric is a term with several related uses. As an adjective, it denotes methods based on observation and experience rather than on theory. As a noun, an empiric is a person who relies on practical experience to guide judgment. In medicine, the Empiric school in antiquity emphasized experience over theoretical explanations.

Etymology: from Latin empiricus, via Greek empeirikos meaning "experienced," from empeiria "experience." The word belongs to the broader concept of empiricism, which holds that knowledge arises from sensory experience.

In clinical practice, empiric therapy is treatment started before a definitive diagnosis, based on the most probable condition and known patterns of illness. It prioritizes rapid relief while tests confirm or refute the diagnosis. Risks include inappropriate treatment and antimicrobial resistance when used for infections.

The ancient Empiric school rejected reliance on theory and anatomy, arguing that medical outcomes should be judged by observed results of treatments. They favored experience-based rules and case-based reasoning, often at odds with more theory-driven dogmatic traditions. Their approach influenced later clinical practice and the development of observational methods, though it faced criticism for limited etiological explanations.

In modern usage, empiric describes methods and beliefs grounded in observation and experience, as opposed to deduction from first principles. The term persists in medicine, science, and philosophy as a shorthand for trial-and-error learning and evidence-based reasoning.