EMPIRICISM

EMPIRICISM

- the mind is a blank sheet (tabula rasa) and is later on filled by experiences.

- derived from the ancient Greek word ‘empeiria’, which means “experience.”

- is a theory of knowledge which states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience.

EMPIRICISM

"Empiricism is the foundation of all knowledge"

JOHN LOCKE(1632-1704)

HISTORY

However, he also believed in innate knowledge, which is the opposite of empiricism.

HISTORY

The roots of empiricism can be traced back to ancient Greek. Aristotle believed that sense experience was the source of our knowledge.

Aristotle

HISTORY

Therefore, while Aristotle made significant contributions to the development of Empiricism, his belief in innate knowledge sets him apart from Locke, who emphasized the need for empirical evidence and insisted that all of our ideas come from experiences.

Aristotle

CRITIQUES

DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES

CRITIQUES

• Emphasizes the importance of evidence and observation which can lead to more accurate and reliable conclusions.

• Often associated with scientific method, which has led to many important discoveries and advancements in various fields.

• Is grounded in the real world and focuses on practical applications, which can lead to more tangible results.

ADVANTAGES

• Fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for certain types of knowledge, such as mathematical or logical truths.

• May not be able to capture all aspects of reality since it places too much emphasis on sensory experience as the sole source of knowledge.

• Has difficulty accounting for abstract concepts or phenomena that cannot be directly observed or measured.

DISADVANTAGES

EMPIRICISM VS. RATIONALISM

BOTH:

• answers fundamental questions about the nature of truth and knowledge

• acknowledge the importance of reason and evidence

• have contributed to our understanding of the world in different ways

• knowledge is innate, it is present in the mind at birth

• more on reason and intuition

• associated with deductive reasoning and the use of priori knowledge

• knowledge is derived from experience

• the mind is a blank sheet at birth and that all ideas come from experience

• all knowledge is uncertain and subject to revision based on new experiences

• empirical evidence is important in the formation of theories

EMPIRICISM VS. RATIONALISM

Empiricisim is a theory of knowledge which states that from birth, the mind of an individual is blank and can only be filled when they start to have experiences. In this theory of knowledge, the 5 senses are used, simple ideas are being combined to form a complex one. It was first stated by Aristotle but is later on developed by John Locke. Empiricism emphasizes the importance of evidences and observations, it focuses on the real world with solid basis rather than priori reasoning or intuition. However, since it mainly focus on the experiences, it cannot explain mathematical equations or phenomenons that cannot be directly observed.

SUMMARY

THANKYOU

Hearing a particular sound and identifying it based on its sound. Example: A barking dog.

Tasting a particular food and identifying it as sweet or sour.

Observing that the sky is blue during the day.

snow

cold

white

• Definition
• Founder
• History

• Empiricism vs. Rationalism
• Critiques

CONTENTS:

Touching a hot stove and learning that it is hot and can cause pain.

Smelling a smoke and recognizing it as a sign of fire.