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Empiricist: meaning, definitions and examples

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empiricist

 

[ ษ›mหˆpษชrษชsษชst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

philosophy approach

An empiricist is a person who believes that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience. This viewpoint is often contrasted with rationalism, which asserts that knowledge can be gained through intuition and reason alone. Empiricists emphasize the role of evidence, particularly as discovered in experiments and observations, in the formation of ideas. They argue that all concepts or propositions must be ultimately grounded in experience. This approach has significantly influenced the development of modern scientific methods.

Synonyms

observer, pragmatist, realist

Examples of usage

  • John Locke is a notable empiricist.
  • Empiricists advocate for data-driven conclusions.
  • His empiricist methods led to significant discoveries.
  • Many scientists adopt an empiricist perspective.
Context #2 | Noun

scientific viewpoint

An empiricist in the scientific context refers to someone who relies on experiment and observation rather than theory alone in their approach to understanding the world. In this sense, empiricism is a foundational concept in the philosophy of science. Empiricists often utilize the scientific method as a framework to test their hypotheses and gather data.

Synonyms

data-driven thinker, experimentalist

Examples of usage

  • The empiricist approach is fundamental in experimental science.
  • As an empiricist, she values peer-reviewed research.
  • The empiricist scientist conducted multiple trials.
  • Understanding phenomena requires an empiricist attitude.

Translations

Translations of the word "empiricist" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น empirista

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคจเฅเคญเคตเคตเคพเคฆเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Empirist

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ empiris

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะตะผะฟั–ั€ั–ัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ empirysta

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ตŒ้จ“ไธป็พฉ่€…

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท empiriste

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ empirista

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท empirist

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฒฝํ—˜์ฃผ์˜์ž

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุฌุฑูŠุจูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ empirista

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ empirista

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ป้ชŒไธปไน‰่€…

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ empirist

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ empiristi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะผะฟะธั€ะธัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ”แƒ›แƒžแƒ˜แƒ แƒ˜แƒกแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ empirist

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ empirista

Word origin

The term 'empiricist' originates from the Greek word 'empeirรญa', meaning 'experience'. It was formalized in the context of philosophy during the 17th century, particularly through the works of British philosophers like John Locke and David Hume. They posited that knowledge is primarily derived through sensory experiences rather than innate ideas or doctrines. Over time, empiricism became a counterpoint to rationalism, establishing a significant philosophical divide about the nature of knowledge. The rise of the scientific method greatly popularized the empiricist viewpoint. Today, the influence of empiricism pervades the scientific fields, guiding research practices and methodologies. The concept has evolved, but its fundamental premiseโ€”that observation and experience are critical to knowledgeโ€”remains central to both science and philosophy.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,077, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.