empiricists

Empiricists are philosophers and scientists who hold that knowledge arises primarily from sensory experience. They maintain that the mind starts with little or no innate content, and that observation and evidence yield reliable beliefs about the world. Empiricism emphasizes observation, experience, and induction, often in contrast with rationalist theories that privilege a priori reasoning.

Historically, the label “empiricist” has two major strands: an ancient school of medicine known as the Empirics, who valued practical experience over theory; and a tradition within Western philosophy from the 17th century onward that defended knowledge from experience as its foundation. The modern empirical tradition includes Francis Bacon, who championed systematic observation and induction as the basis of knowledge; John Locke, who argued that the mind acquires ideas through experience and that knowledge is grounded in sensation and reflection; George Berkeley, who argued that all ideas are mental and that material substance is unnecessary for knowledge; and David Hume, whose skeptical analysis of causation, induction, and the limits of empirical knowledge remains influential.

Criticism and influence: Empiricism shaped the scientific method, emphasizing experimentation and data, and informed the development of various empirical sciences. It faced opposition from rationalists who believed some knowledge could be gained independently of experience. Immanuel Kant argued that experience is structured by a priori forms of sensibility and understanding, offering a synthesis between empiricism and rationalism. In the 20th century, empiricist and verificationist trends influenced logical positivism and subsequent discussions in the philosophy of science.