radical empiricism

American  

noun

1. (in the philosophy of William James) the doctrine that the only proper subject matter of philosophy is that which can be defined in terms of experience, and that relations are a part of experience.

2. sensationalism.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• radical empiricist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of radical empiricism

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

And the best way to get at Absolute Truth is simply to drop all thought and pay close attention to immediate perception, aka Zen meditation, aka radical empiricism.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2018

A rat-a-tat of surprising results over the past few years has supported this radical empiricism and done a lot to challenge traditional dualist philosophy.

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2014

Pragmatism, and radical empiricism, distinction between, 2, 267; disadvantages of the word as a title, 271, 295, 298.

From The Letters of William James, Vol. II by James, William

This, it seems to me, breaks down radical empiricism, which I hate to do; and I can't yet clearly see my way out of the quandary.

From The Letters of William James, Vol. II by James, William

I believe that radical empiricism, on the contrary, holding to the each-form, and making of God only one of the caches, affords the higher degree of intimacy.

From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by James, William