The term Empiricism (from the Latin ” empiria “) means experience . It was first defined in a formal and conceptual way by the English thinker John Locke (1632-1704), in his ” Essay on Human Understanding ” (1690).
In the introduction, he describes that ” only experience fills the spirit with ideas “.
Locke defends a chain which he called ” Tabula Rasa “, where the mind would be a “blank board” (tabula rasa). Knowledge is recorded on it, the basis of which is sensation.
In this process, reason would have the role of organizing the empirical data obtained through the sensory path: “ nothing can exist in the mind that has not passed through the senses before ”.
The truth or falsity of a fact must be verified through the results of experiments and observations.
Hume and the Causality Principle
Another important philosopher of this current was the Scottish David Hume (1711-1776), who contributed with the ” Principle of Causality “.
According to Hume, there is no causal connection, but a temporal sequence of events, which can be analyzed.
A basic concept, therefore, in the science of scientific method is that all evidence must be empirical.
In other words, it must be subject to verification by the senses, allowing knowledge especially through sensory experience. This emphasizes the role of these attributes in shaping the truth.
Empiricism as a Scientific Method
With the valorization of experiences and scientific knowledge, man began to seek practical results. This stance led empiricism to assume a rigorous scientific methodology from which all hypotheses and theories should be tested experimentally.
Thus, an empirical result is an experience, which allows the word to be used in science as a synonym for ” experimental “.
On the other hand, every metaphysical statement must be rejected by Empiricism, since for these statements, there is no experimentation.
In this way, it believes in experiences as unique, which will determine the origin, value, and limits of knowledge, which will never be accepted as universal and necessary.
For this reason, this philosophical system rejects other non-scientific forms, for example, faith or common sense , as a way of generating knowledge.
Finally, if what we achieve comes from experience, it only corroborates us a little about how the world is constituted.
Therefore, it is clear, according to empiricism, to be attentive and critical of false ideas that cannot be ascertained by the senses.
Main Philosophers of Empiricism
The main philosophers of the empiricist current are:
- Aristotle
- Alhazen
- Avicenna
- David Hume
- Francis Bacon
- Guilherme de Ockham
- George Berkeley
- Hermann von Helmholtz
- IbnTufail
- John Locke
- John Stuart Mill
- Leopold von Ranke
- Robert Grossetest
- Robert Boyle
Empiricism and Rationalism
Empiricism and Rationalism are two opposing currents. Rationalism approaches the subject of knowledge from the exact sciences, while Empiricism gives more importance to experimental sciences.