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empiricism
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empiricism

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Written by
Richard Fumerton
Professor of Philosophy, University of Iowa. Author of Metaepistemology and Skepticism and others.
Richard Fumerton,
Anthony M. Quinton, Baron Quinton
Chairman, British Library Board, 1985–90. President, Trinity College, Oxford, 1978–87; Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Oxford, 1950–78. Author of The Nature of Things.
Anthony M. Quinton, Baron Quinton•All
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empiricism, in philosophy, the view that all concepts originate in experience, that all concepts are about or applicable to things that can be experienced, or that all rationally acceptable beliefs or propositions are justifiable or knowable only through experience. This broad definition accords with the derivation of the term empiricism from the ancient Greek word empeiria, “experience.” Concepts are said to be “a posteriori” (Latin: “from the latter”) if they can be applied only on the basis of experience, and they are called “a priori” (“from the former”) if they can be applied independently of experience. Beliefs or propositions are ...(100 of 5700 words)

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