What does "empiricism" mean?

A doctrine which holds that the only or, at least, the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience, especially perception by means of the physical senses. (Often contrasted with rationalism.)

What is a synonym for "empiricism"?

Common synonyms include: quackery, ;, altruistic ethics, animalism, aretaics, atomism.

Empiricism

noun

noun ·5 syllables ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1
A doctrine which holds that the only or, at least, the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience, especially perception by means of the physical senses. (Often contrasted with rationalism.) countable, uncountable
"Empiricism teaches us that we are unceasingly and intimately in contact with a full, living, breathing Reality, that experience is a constant communion with the real."
2
medical practice and advice based on observation and experience in ignorance of scientific findings wordnet
3
A pursuit of knowledge purely through experience, especially by means of observation and sometimes by experimentation. countable, uncountable
"Our whole life in some of its highest and most important aspects is simply empiricism. Empiricism is only another word for experience."
4
the application of empirical methods in any art or science wordnet
5
Research methodology shaped from empirical philosophy (see above), e.g. surveys, statistics, etc. countable, uncountable

Show 2 more definitions

6
(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience wordnet
7
Medicine as practised by an empiric, founded on mere (personal or anecdotal) experience, without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles. countable, historical, uncountable
"Near-synonyms: folk medicine; quackery; charlatanry"