empiricism
empirical method or practice.
Philosophy. the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from sense experience.: Compare rationalism (def. 2).
undue reliance upon experience, as in medicine; quackery.
an empirical conclusion.
Origin of empiricism
1Other words from empiricism
- em·pir·i·cist, noun, adjective
- an·ti·em·pir·i·cism, noun
- an·ti·em·pir·i·cist, noun, adjective
- non·em·pir·i·cism, noun
- pro·em·pir·i·cism, noun, adjective
- pro·em·pir·i·cist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use empiricism in a sentence
William James, who called himself a "radical empiricist," made much of this point.
The Behavior of Crowds | Everett Dean MartinBut such assumptions are an offence to the expert empiricist.
Soliloquies in England | George SantayanaThe modern philosopher who has professed himself an empiricist has usually had a critical purpose in mind.
Reconstruction in Philosophy | John DeweyBy the modern philosophic empiricist and by his opponent, experience has been looked upon just as a way of knowing.
Democracy and Education | John DeweyIf he became a perfect empiricist he would trust experience only if it taught him absolutely nothing, even about his own past.
Soliloquies in England | George Santayana
British Dictionary definitions for empiricism
/ (ɛmˈpɪrɪˌsɪzəm) /
philosophy the doctrine that all knowledge of matters of fact derives from experience and that the mind is not furnished with a set of concepts in advance of experience: Compare intuitionism, rationalism
the use of empirical methods
medical quackery; charlatanism
Derived forms of empiricism
- empiricist, noun, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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