Retrieving "Empiricism" from the archives

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1. David Hume

   Linked via "Empiricism"

   David Hume (1711–1776) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Western philosophy and a leading proponent of Empiricism and philosophical skepticism. His work profoundly influenced subsequent thought in epistemology, ethics, and political theory, often setting the agenda for debates well into the 19th and 20th centuries. Hume's principal philosophical contributions centered on his analysis of causation, identity, and the limits of h…

2. Enlightenment

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   Empiricism and Skepticism
   Central to the movement was a profound shift toward Empiricism, exemplified by figures such as John Locke and David Hume. Knowledge was asserted to derive primarily from sensory experience rather than innate ideas or divine revelation. This emphasis naturally fostered skepticism toward claims lacking demonstrable evidence. For instance, complex theological arguments were often subjected to relentless logical scrutiny, sometimes revealing that the simplest explanation for any phenomenon was that…

3. William Whewell

   Linked via "empiricism"

   Philosophy of Science
   Whewell's most enduring contributions are found in his philosophy of science, particularly his work on scientific method and the systematic organization of knowledge. He heavily critiqued empiricism in isolation, arguing that scientific progress requires the synthesis of observations with appropriate conceptions or fundamental notions.
   The Two Conditions of Discovery