empiricism

CEFRC1

/ɛˈmpɪrəˌsɪzəm/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    The belief that knowledge comes mainly from observation and experience.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A pursuit of knowledge purely through experience, especially by means of observation and sometimes by experimentation.

Examples

  • The scientist based his research on the principles of strict empiricism.

  • The scientist relied on empiricism for her research.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
3

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Research methodology shaped from empirical philosophy (see above), e.g. surveys, statistics, etc.

  2. A doctrine which holds that the only or, at least, the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience, especially perception by means of the physical senses. (Often contrasted with rationalism.)

  3. Medicine as practised by an empiric, founded on mere (personal or anecdotal) experience, without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles.

More examples

In context

  • Empiricism guides medical treatment decisions.

  • Our whole life in some of its highest and most important aspects is simply empiricism. Empiricism is only another word for experience.

  • I have found no better expression than "religious" for confidence in the rational nature of reality.... Whenever this feeling is absent, science degenerates into uninspired empiricism.

Synonyms

Quick test

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Philosophers debate whether blank or reason is the source of knowledge.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From empiric + -ism.