Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

Get access

Empiricism
(1,781 words)

1. Definition

The philosophical approach of empiricism – in contrast to rationalism – assumes that knowledge is acquired by through experience and hence through the human senses (Epistemology). It is closely associated historically with the development of the experimental method (Experiment), in which knowledge is the result of a specially developed, specific practical procedures; this method has been…

Cite this page
Henry, John, “Empiricism”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_018747>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170626



▲   Back to top   ▲