empiricism

[ em-pir-uh-siz-uhm ]

noun

1. empirical method or practice.
2. Philosophy. the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from sense experience. Compare rationalism ( def 2 ).
3. undue reliance upon experience, as in medicine; quackery.
4. an empirical conclusion.

empiricism

/ ɛmˈpɪrɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. 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
2. the use of empirical methods
3. medical quackery; charlatanism

Derived Forms

• emˈpiricist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of empiricism¹

First recorded in 1650–60; empiric + -ism

Example Sentences

In the history of these debates over the nature of consciousness, the element of the subjective is often either dismissed as a casualty of empiricism, or downplayed as though it’s not as valuable.

From Salon

When your congregation zealously overestimates the epistemological functionality of empiricism in the work of logical positivism, you trap the conversation of science and consciousness in your lethally boring Vienna wagon-Circling.

From Salon

Only Democrats, they insisted, could be trusted to defer to experts in a crisis, restore empiricism to its proper place, and safeguard the environment and public health against the troglodytic masses.

From Salon

In short, empiricism dominated philosophy and psychology until the second half of the 20th century, when nativist-friendly thinkers such as Noam Chomsky swung the pendulum back toward Plato.

From Scientific American

“It’s potentially very healthy if these investigations are animated by an empiricism — an ability to get to the facts,” he said.

From Seattle Times