Empiricism is an epistemological perspective that asserts true knowledge or justification primarily stems from sensory experience and empirical evidence.
It competes with other views like rationalism and skepticism within epistemology. Empiricists argue their approach is more reliable for finding truth than pure logical reasoning, as human cognitive biases can lead to judgment errors. This philosophy emphasizes the role of empirical evidence in idea formation, rather than innate ideas or traditions.
In the realm of science, empiricism stresses the importance of evidence, particularly from experiments. It forms a crucial part of the scientific method, requiring all hypotheses and theories to be tested against observations of the natural world. This approach contrasts with relying solely on a priori reasoning, intuition, or revelation.
Empiricism, often employed by natural scientists, holds that knowledge is based on experience and is subject to ongoing revision and falsification. The historical roots of empiricism in Britain can be traced back to Francis Bacon, who first advocated for this approach in 1620. Thomas Hobbes has been retrospectively identified as an empiricist.
Around the Enlightenment, John Locke and David Hume emerged as leading proponents of empiricism in Britain, contributing to its dominance in British philosophy. This philosophical tradition has had a lasting impact on scientific inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge.