empírie

Empirie, or empiricism, is a theory of knowledge that emphasizes sensory experience as the primary source of human understanding. In this view, ideas and theories should be grounded in observation, measurement, and experiment rather than relying solely on reason, intuition, or revelation. The term is closely tied to the scientific method, where evidence from the natural world guides the development and testing of explanations.

Historically, empiricism rose to prominence in the early modern period with Francis Bacon’s advocacy of systematic observation and inductive reasoning. It was developed further by John Locke, George Berkeley, and especially David Hume, who argued that all ideas originate from impressions and that scientific knowledge rests on empirical evidence. In the 19th and 20th centuries, empiricism influenced the development of positivism and the modern enterprise of scientific inquiry across disciplines.

In practice, empiricism supports observation, experimentation, data collection, and the testing of hypotheses. It emphasizes provisional knowledge, open to revision in light of new evidence. The problem of induction, highlighted by Hume, notes that general conclusions cannot be logically guaranteed by past observations alone; empirical knowledge rests on probabilistic, rather than certain, grounds.

Critics argue that empirical methods alone cannot capture a priori truths, normative values, or the theoretical frameworks that guide interpretation. Despite these criticisms, empiricism remains foundational to science and much of modern epistemology, providing a framework that connects observation with knowledge production across natural and social sciences.