THE 5 MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS OF EMPIRICISM - PHILOSOPHY - 2024

Some of the most important contributions of empiricism are empirical knowledge, empirical learning, data as an informative basic element or the empirical method.

The philosophical position of empiricism focuses on obtaining knowledge through experience, based on two fundamental principles. The first is that there is no absolute truth and the second that all truth is subject to being tested, modified, corrected or discarded. So, for knowledge to be valid, it must be tested by experience.

John Locke

The main exponents of the empiricist movement were the philosophers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, among others. But to what extent were the empiricists spokesmen for a way of thinking and generators of ideas?

Contributions of empiricism to philosophy and science

The empiricist John Locke said that "the human mind at birth is tabula rasa", which means that people are born with the mind as a blank paper and that, from there, experiences become knowledge of form. empirical.

Thus, human experiences would be the only ones responsible for the formation of ideas and concepts existing in the world.

In one way or another, the current of empiricism has contributed to philosophy and science with various contributions, such as:

1 - Empirical knowledge

Empirical knowledge is based on direct contact with reality, through experience, perception and repetition, without the need for scientific knowledge but rather practical knowledge.

This type of knowledge is related and close, based on the senses, which facilitates the resolution of problems in a practical way.

2 - Empirical learning

Learning must always be accompanied by empiricism, since theory alone does not give successful results, since practice and experience will facilitate learning and the proper fixation of knowledge.

Learners must engage in practical, trial and error activities that improve their learning outcomes and increase their success rates. Empiricism influenced the philosophy of education.

3 - The data

The data as an informative basic element of the different facts that are studied.

Every time a researcher requires information of any kind, to formulate his conclusions, he makes use of empirical data that is taken from both correct tests and errors; and these constitute the experience.

That is, empiricism proposes data as a knowledge universe.

4 - The empirical method

The empirical method is a model of scientific research, based on experimentation and empirical logic, which allows the researcher to reveal essential characteristics and relationships of the object of study, through a series of practical procedures.

It is also known as the trial and error method, and is the most widely used in the field of social and natural sciences.

5 - Scientific methodology

Empiricism, through the empirical method, gave way to scientific methodology, as we know it today.

Science could not be based only on hypotheses that were not contrasted with experience, so that the validity of a scientific theory will always depend on its empirical verification.

References

1. Angie Monroy. (2014). EMPIRISM AS A TOOL OF KNOWLEDGE TODAY. School Press Section. Electronic edition Diario del Otún. Retrieved on September 17, 2017 from: eldiario.com.co
2. Aragonese Center of Technologies for Education. CATEDU. (2016). TOPIC 1: EMPIRISM. Unit 4. Modern Philosophy 2. ESPAD Didactic Units. History of Philosophy. Aragonese e-ducative platform. Department of Education, Culture and Sports of the Government of Aragon. Retrieved September 17, 2017 from: e-ducativa.catedu.es/unidadesdidacticas
3. Cuban Collaborative Encyclopedia. ECURED. (s / f). EMPIRISM. Category: Philosophy. Retrieved September 17, 2017 from: ecured.cu
4. Maria G. Amilburu. (2014). PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION. Philosophica: Online philosophical encyclopedia. Retrieved September 17, 2017 from: philosophica.info
5. Roberto Rojas. (2015). INTUITIVE, RELIGIOUS, EMPIRICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. DEFINITION, CHARACTERISTICS AND RELEVANCE. Philosophy. Gestiopolis: Knowledge of business management. Retrieved September 17, 2017 from: gestiopolis.com.