Empiricism is just a method of cognition?

Empiricism is a philosophical direction that recognizes human feelings and immediate experience as the dominant source of knowledge. Empiricists do not completely reject theoretical or rational cognition, but the construction of conclusions is made solely on the basis of the results of research or recorded observations.

Methodology

Such an approach is connected with 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 be countered by one's own approach as opposed to the entrenched practices of the religious vision of the world. Naturally, there was no other way than 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 are divergent from the religious interpretation of the knowledge of the surrounding world. Empiricism in this regard proved to be a convenient mechanism that enabled various sciences to first claim their autocephaly with respect to mysticism and then autonomy in comparison with the comprehensive, over-theoretically known knowledge of the late Middle Ages.

Representatives of

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

For example, Francis Bacon, who rightfully is considered the founder of sensory cognition, believed that empiricism is not just a way to gain new knowledge and accumulate practical experience, but also the opportunity to streamline scientific knowledge. Using the method of induction, he made the first attempt to qualify all known sciences 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 philosophical searches practical significance. However, his search actually led to the creation of a new political theory (the concept of a social contract) and then of political science in its modern form.

For George Berkeley, matter, that is, the surrounding world, objectively did not exist. The knowledge of the world is possible only through the interpretation of the sensory experience of God. Thus, empiricism is also a special type of mystical cognition, which contradicted the main methodological principles laid by Francis Bacon. Rather, we are talking about resuscitation of the Platonic tradition: the world is full of ideas and spirits, which remains to be perceived, but not to be cognized. Hence the laws of nature are just a "bunch" of ideas and spirits, nothing 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 reason, 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 rationale over experience.

What is the unity of views?

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