empiricism
This term describes a commitment to the tangible and the observable. It carries a connotation of objectivity and rigor, positioning sensory evidence as the only reliable source of truth. In academic and scientific contexts, it is often contrasted with rationalism, which emphasizes the role of reason and innate logic.
As an uncountable noun, it refers to a philosophical system or a general methodology. It does not have a plural form and cannot be counted as individual units; instead, it is treated as a singular mass concept.
Meanings
The philosophical theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience and evidence gathered through observation.
The scientist relied on empiricism to prove the hypothesis through repeated trials.
Examples
He studies empiricism.
Empiricism is a theory.
The board prefers empiricism over theoretical speculation here.
Is pure empiricism sufficient to explain human consciousness?