empiricist etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: empirice, from Old French emperi(e), from Medieval Latin empiricus, from Greek empeirikos, from empeiria "experience"

Meaning:

  • (of a person or theory) based on or derived from experience or observation, rather than theory or logic.

Origin:

The word "empiricist" originated in ancient Greece, where the term empeirikos referred to a medical practitioner who relied on experience and observation rather than abstract reasoning. This term was later adopted into Latin and French, and eventually into English.

In the 17th century, the term "empiricism" was used to describe the philosophical school of thought that emphasized the role of experience in acquiring knowledge. Empiricists argued that all knowledge is derived from experience, and that there are no innate ideas or concepts. This view contrasted with rationalism, which held that reason and logic were the primary sources of knowledge.

Today, the term "empiricist" is used to refer to a person or theory that favors observation and experimentation over theoretical speculation. Empiricism is a central principle of the scientific method and is widely accepted as a reliable approach to acquiring knowledge about the natural world.

empiricist relate terms

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