What does Empiricism mean?

This is a branch of Philosophy that deals with experience and where our ideas of things come from' Empiricism' is Greek for experience. It's probably best discussed by the 17th and 18th century thinkers John Locke and David Hume. Locke thought that when we are born we are a 'Tabular Rasa' which is Latin for 'Blank Slate' It means we are born with no innate ideas and it is only our experiences that help us form ideas of objects and feelings. Hume went even further explaining that we can know nothing without first having a sensory experience of it. He was once challenged by the objection that a person may have never experienced a golden mountain but we have an idea of it. Hume countered with the rebuttal that this is in fact just a composite of gold and a mountain. Can you think of a colour you haven't seen? This is what Empiricism would ask you!

AD
Answered by Alex D. Philosophy tutor

2922 Views

See similar Philosophy A Level tutors

Related Philosophy A Level answers

All answers ▸

'The fact that I can conceive of a mind as existing separately to a body is enough to prove that the mind and body are distinct substances’ 25 marks


Do Arguments from Empiricism support Berkeley's Idealism as a Theory of Perception?


Explain Descartes substance dualism and some of its implications


How may different religions broach the ethical issue of abortion?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences