Is empiricism just a method of knowing?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Empiricism is a philosophical trend that recognizes human feelings and direct experience as the dominant source of knowledge. Empiricists do not completely deny theoretical or rational knowledge, however, the construction of inferences is done solely on the basis of the results of research or recorded observations.

Methodology

This approach is due to the fact that the emerging science of the 16th-18th centuries (and at that time the basic concepts of this epistemological tradition were formed) had to oppose its own approach as opposed to the rooted practices of the religious vision of the world. Naturally, there was no other way but opposition to a priori mystical knowledge.

In addition, it turned out that empiricism is also a convenient methodology for collecting primary information, field research and accumulating facts that disagree with the religious interpretation of the knowledge of the surrounding world. Empiricism in this regard turned out to be a convenient mechanism that allowed various sciences to first declare their autocephaly in relation to mysticism, and then already autonomy in comparison with comprehensive, overly theorized knowledge.late Middle Ages.

Representatives

It is believed that empiricism in philosophy created a new intellectual situation that allowed science to get a good chance for independent development. At the same time, some disagreements among empiricists cannot be denied, which can be explained by the search for the optimal formula for the sensory perception of the world.

For example, Francis Bacon, who is rightfully considered the founder of sensory knowledge, believed that empiricism is not just a way to gain new knowledge and accumulate practical experience, but also an opportunity to streamline scientific knowledge. Using the method of induction, he made the first attempt to qualify all the sciences known to him on the example of history, poetry (philology) and, of course, philosophy.

Thomas Hobbes, in turn, remaining within the epistemological paradigm of Bacon, tried to give practical significance to philosophical searches. However, his search actually led to the creation of a new political theory (the concept of a social contract) and then political science in its modern form.

For George Berkeley, matter, that is, the surrounding world, objectively did not exist. Cognition of the world is possible only through the interpretation of the sensory experience of God. Thus, empiricism is also a special type of mystical knowledge, which contradicted the basic methodological principles laid down by Francis Bacon. Rather, we are talking about the resuscitation of the Platonic tradition: the world is full of ideas and spirits that can only be perceived, but not known. Hence the laws of nature are just"bunch" of ideas and spirits, no more.

Rationalism

In contrast to empiricism, rationalism recognized theoretical knowledge as primary in relation to practical experience. Cognition is possible only with the help of the mind, and empiricism is just a test of the rationalistic constructions built by our mind. This approach is not surprising, given the "mathematical", Cartesian origin of this methodology. Mathematics is too abstract, and hence the natural advantage of rationality over experience.

What is the unity of views?

True, it should be noted that the empiricism and rationalism of modern times set themselves the same tasks: liberation from Catholic, and indeed religious dogma. Hence, the goal was the same - the creation of purely scientific knowledge. Only empiricists chose the path of constructing humanitarian practices, which later became the basis of the humanities. Whereas rationalists followed in the footsteps of natural science knowledge. In other words, the so-called "exact" sciences are the product of the Cartesian way of thinking.