nonempirically

Nonempirically is an adverb describing a claim, method, or justification that is not based on empirical observation or experimentation. It is often used to distinguish forms of knowledge or inference that rely on reason, logic, or theoretical analysis from those grounded in sensory data. In practice, nonempirical reasoning can include mathematical proofs, axiomatic deduction, conceptual analysis, or the evaluation of thought experiments, where conclusions are drawn from stated premises rather than observed phenomena.

Nonempirical reasoning appears prominently in philosophy, mathematics, and logic, and is associated with a priori knowledge—knowledge justified independently of experience. It also features in ethics and aesthetics, where arguments may appeal to reasons, coherence, or formal criteria rather than experimental results. In some scientific domains, theoretical constructs are developed nonempirically for the sake of consistency or explanatory power, but are generally subjected to empirical testing as soon as feasible.

Critics of nonempirical approaches argue that lack of testability hinders falsification, replicability, and objective justification. Proponents counter that nonempirical methods are necessary in domains where observation is limited, impossible, or incomplete, and that a framework with strong internal coherence can guide inquiry and interpretation until empirical data arrives.