How is empiricism defined?

Empiricism is defined as a philosophy stating that knowledge comes from experience. This principle emphasizes the role of sensory experience in the formation of ideas, as opposed to the reliance on innate ideas or pure reason. Empiricists argue that all knowledge is ultimately grounded in what we can observe or experience directly through our senses, such as sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell.

This perspective was crucial during the Enlightenment, as it laid the groundwork for the scientific method and encouraged a systematic approach to understanding the world through observation, experimentation, and evidence. Thinkers like John Locke and David Hume were pivotal figures in advancing the concept of empiricism, arguing against rationalist doctrines that asserted knowledge could be acquired solely through reason without empirical evidence.

In contrast, other options describe different philosophical stances. For example, the idea that knowledge is derived solely from reason aligns more with rationalism, while the emphasis on intuition relates to a more subjective or psychological approach to knowledge acquisition. The study of moral principles and ethics pertains to a different area of philosophy entirely and does not address the foundational basis of knowledge as empiricism does.