Meaning & use
empiricism
The theory that knowledge comes mainly from sensory experience and observation rather than reasoning alone.
See it in a sentence
Empiricism shaped early modern science by insisting that claims be tested through observation.
The professor contrasted empiricism with rationalism, which stresses reason over sensory experience.
A note on using this word
Empiricism is closely linked to the scientific method and is often contrasted with rationalism in philosophy courses.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
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