There are a lot of options for how human thinking can be organized. Some people have a rational mindset, while others perceive information through the prism of feelings and emotions. Someone thinks abstractly, abstractly, but for someone it is important to consider all the real little things and details. The structure of the mind is individual and, probably, this is what attracts scientists from time immemorial.
What is empiricism? Definition
This name comes from the ancient Greek word εμπειρία, which is translated into Russian as "experience".
Empiricism is one of the directions in the framework of the theory of knowledge. It is based on the belief that knowledge is gained from experience. Accordingly, the presentation or transfer of the content of acquired knowledge is nothing more than a description of the experience gained.
The essence of the concept
Empirical thinking in philosophy is opposed to the mystical and rational. However, it is not so much an antagonism as it is between these methods of cognition, combining part of the elements inherent in them.
This type of cognition is characterized by:
- reliance on sensations;
- raising experience to an absolute value;
- belittling or ignoring rational methods - theories, analytical chains, thought-out concepts;
- intuitive awareness or “instinct”.
Empirical thinking does not deny the existence of theories and meditations completely, but does not understand them in the way that is characteristic of rational methods of cognition. Experience is the only true source of knowledge, as well as their criterion, in this method of the thought process. Only the natural course of things that can be felt, observed, forms the basis of this version of the organization of thinking. At the same time, the concept is characterized by influx and internal feelings. These manifestations are included in the empirical characteristics of thinking, as are contemplation, observation, experience.
The relationship of empiricism and theoretical thinking
Although empiricism and rationalism are often opposed, these types of thinking alone are narrow, not allowing you to approach the subject from all possible points of view, sides. In other words, if while studying something, one thinks exclusively empirically or, conversely, rationally, then part of the subject under investigation will fall out of the attention and, accordingly, will not be known.
Empirical and theoretical thinking act as two “pillars” of knowledge. In this case, one logically complements the other. In addition, the theoretical way of knowing may not be a complement, but a continuation of the irrational. Empirical theoretical methods of thinking combine both approaches to the organization of cognition. After receiving basic ideas from experience, observation, or another type of direct experience, a person begins to comprehend and build theoretical formulas in relation to the studied subject or phenomenon.
What is the difference between rationality and empiricism?
Theoretical and empirical thinking distinguish their characteristic approach to obtaining knowledge. Empirically perceived reality is viewed from the angle of its external manifestations. This type of thinking captures obvious processes and phenomena, events, etc., which are of interest for study.
In simple words, the empirical method of thinking is the awareness of everything that seems possible to touch, smell, examine, hear, or feel otherwise. The theoretical way of knowing is fundamentally different. Based on the received idea, the human mind builds chains of thoughts, while systematizing and classifying both existing and newly incoming material. Thus, rational thinking is set to identify patterns of general and private order, allowing for the implementation of a scientific forecast in a particular field of activity.
Forms of thinking of this type
Like any type of organized mental activity, empiricism has inherent constituent structural elements.
Empirical thinking includes two major forms:
Each of these types of empiricism has its own characteristics that determine their essence.
Immanent form
Immanent thinking is characterized by the desire to explain rational activity and its inherent processes by a combination of representations and sensations. In the history of philosophy, following this kind of thinking led to the development of skepticism, an example is the work of a writer named Michel Montaigne, who developed the ideas of famous ancient scholars - Pirron and Protagoras.
With this type of thinking, the entire body of knowledge and the material studied are limited by the scope of mental sensations - emotions, perceptions, feelings. Cognitive activity is seen as a product of associations and a chain of individual psycho-emotional elements. Of course, this form of thinking does not deny the existence of reality or being outside of consciousness, but considers it as a source of the possibility of obtaining sensations and experience.
Transcendental form
This type of empiricism is understood as materialism. In other words, reality is considered as a combination of moving material elements, particles, entering into mutual relations and forming various combinations.
The content of thoughts and the laws of cognition are understood as a product of the process of interaction of the mind with the environment. In this way, the formation of experience forms the basis of knowledge.
Stages and positions of empiricism
The stages of empirical thinking or its main provisions are associated with attempts to explain the structure of the epistemological, mathematical laws inherent in the human mind, which are universal and unconditional.
The list of stages and positions characteristic of this type of thinking includes the following:
- necessity and universality;
- repetition of impressions;
- associativity and predisposition;
- understanding of the experience.
The universality and necessity of connecting thought elements when gaining experience is the result of the repeated and monotonous receipt of certain impressions and sensations.
A conscious repetition of already known impressions leads to their consolidation, the formation of a habit for them and the establishment of associations. Thus, an inextricable internal connection arises between specific ideas about something. This, in turn, leads to the complete impossibility of considering or realizing any objects separately. In the perception of the human mind, the objects, objects, processes or phenomena under consideration become one.
As an example of the result of this stage of empiricism, we can cite the traditional perception of couples by society. That is, if one of the spouses is invited to any celebration, a priori is meant to be attended by his half. Husband and wife are not perceived under such circumstances as two independent and completely different people. Society takes them as a whole. Another example is young mothers. Surely everyone has heard such phrases: “We have a deuce”, “We enrolled in a circle”. However, the deuce is only for the child and the baby is registered in the circle, without a mother. In other words, the mother does not separate the child from herself, she does not consider him an independent person. In the mindset of such a woman, the child is nothing but a part of herself.
Attempts to “break” the stable bonds between representations are quite complex and not always feasible. Inextricable associations are formed when there is a predisposition to them. That is, they are a direct result of life experience. They are capable of forming over many centuries and encompass the experience gained by more than one generation of people. But they can arise in an individual individual and form very quickly.
Empirical thinking is based on experience. It can be both the life experience of a particular person, and the whole society. Thus, this type of thinking is characteristic of both collective and individual consciousness.