Rationalism and Empiricism are two sides of the same coin of philosophy which have diverging differences, especially when it comes to their belief systems. What those differences are will be highlighted at length in this article.
The information taken from this article will be useful in the IAS Exam
What is the main difference between Rationalism and Empiricism?
The main difference between Rationalism And Empiricism is that rationalism is the knowledge that is derived from reason and logic while on the other hand empiricism is the knowledge that is derived from experience and experimentation. Rationalism is about intuition while empiricism is about visual concepts. Mathematics is rationalism while experimental science is empiricism.
Rationalism is the term used in philosophy to refer to the knowledge that is derived from reason and logic. It is a view which appeals to reason to be a source of any knowledge. Any justification which is given with a reason or a logic, that is intellectual is rationalism. Rationalists believe that everything has a logic behind it, reality has logic and logical knowledge is correct.
Empiricism on the other hand is the term in which the main source of knowledge is experience and experimentation. Rather than just an innate idea, empiricists believe that there is a shred of empirical evidence behind every knowledge. It is a philosophy of science that emphasizes evidence, evidence that is discovered through experiments.
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Comparison Between Rationalism And Empiricism
| Basis of Comparison | Rationalism | Empiricism |
| Definition | Rationalism is the term used in philosophy to refer to the knowledge that is derived from reason and logic. | Empiricism is the term used in philosophy in which the main source of knowledge is experience and exp |
| Belief | Rationalists believe that reason can explain the working of the world. | The empiricists believe that evidence through experimentation can explain reality. |
| Principles | Rationalism is related to mental processes and organizing principles. | Empiricism is related to sensory experience and association principles |
| History | The history of rationalism goes far beyond the Pythagoras’ time that is 570–495 BCE. | The history of empiricism goes to the era between 600 to 200 BCE. |
| Examples | Mathematics is an example of rationalism. | Experimental Science is an example of empiricism. |
What is Rationalism?
Rationalism is a theory of philosophy in which it is believed that reason and logic are the main sources of knowledge. It is a methodology that says that justification or reason is the view that shows the basis of knowledge. Rationalism goes back in history to 570-495 BCE.
Rationalists believe that logic and reasons can reveal the reality of the world, that some truths exist which can be grasped directly through the intellect. Rationalism can be seen in logical reasoning, mathematics, morals and ethics, and metaphysics. Rationalists highly believe that the reason is fundamentally true and they cannot be denied. They believe that knowledge is independent of sensory experience.
There are three basic claims in rationalism. Out of these three claims, rationalists have to adopt at least one. These three thesis are the intuition or deduction thesis, the innate knowledge thesis, and the innate concept thesis. In addition to these, there are two more theories, although a person can be a rationalist without adopting either of them. One is the claim of Indispensability of Reason and the second one is the Superiority of Reason claim.
The philosopher and historian William James criticizes the theory of rationalism because it is outdated and does not touch reality. He opposed that the rationalist represents the world as a closed system.
What is Empiricism?
Empiricism is the term used in philosophy, which states that experimentation and sensory experience is the major source of knowledge. Rather than ideas empiricism emphasized the pieces of evidence. Experiments and evidence show the reality of the world, according to empiricists.
Throughout history, the theory of empiricism is described as a blank slate that is filled with experience over time. The human mind is like the blank slate which is empty by birth and is filled in by experience, learning, and experiments. Knowledge is based on the experience we gain, the possibilities and probabilities of our actions, the falsification, the experimental procedure.
The word Empirical is derived from an ancient Greek word “empeiria”, which means experience. The history of the belief in empiricism goes far back to 600 to 200 BCE. An ancient Indian philosopher named Kanada had accepted that the two sources of knowledge are perception and inference. This is mentioned in his work called Vaisesika Sutra, which is an ancient Sanskrit text.
Empiricists believe that experience, and memory develops the person and his morals. They also believe that evidence, any kind of proof which is found by experiment, can reveal the world’s reality, rather than some reason and logic.
Conclusion
Rationalism and Empiricism are both terms used in philosophy. Both the terms are used under the term epistemology, which is a branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge. Although the terms sound the same, they are too different from each other. Actually, the terms have always been used as opposed to each other. It’s an old controversy. Though both are theories.
Rationalism regards reasons and logic as the main source of knowledge. They believe in the reasoning behind things and reality. Rationalists believe logic and reason will explain the world’s reality. Rationalists believe that they are independent of sensory experience.
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