british empiricism

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British Empiricism

Definition: British empiricism is a philosophical tradition that started in Great Britain around the 17th century. It emphasizes that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience—what we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. This means that we learn about the world through our experiences rather than through pure reasoning or intuition.

Usage Instructions:

• As a noun: "British empiricism has influenced many areas of science and philosophy."
• You can use it when discussing philosophy, science, or the history of ideas.

Example:

• "Philosophers like John Locke and David Hume are key figures in British empiricism because they believed that understanding comes from experience."

Advanced Usage:

In advanced discussions, you might explore how British empiricism contrasts with rationalism, which argues that reason and innate ideas are the primary sources of knowledge. You could also discuss how this tradition has shaped modern scientific methods.

Word Variants:

• Empiricist (noun): A person who supports or adheres to the principles of empiricism.
  • Example: "As an empiricist, she believed in testing her ideas through experiments."
• Empirical (adjective): Related to or based on observation or experience.
  • Example: "The empirical evidence supported the theory."

Different Meanings:

• While "empiricism" generally refers to the philosophical approach of relying on experience, "British empiricism" specifically refers to the tradition that developed in Great Britain and is characterized by the contributions of British philosophers.

Synonyms:

• Experience-based knowledge
• Sensory knowledge
• Practical knowledge

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "British empiricism," but you might use related phrases in discussions about knowledge or experience, such as: - "Seeing is believing" (meaning that experiences lead to understanding). - "Trial and error" (learning through experimentation).

Summary:

British empiricism is an important concept in philosophy that teaches us that we gain knowledge from our experiences.

Academic

Noun

1. the predominant philosophical tradition in Great Britain since the 17th century

Synonyms

• british empiricism