Rationalism vs. Empiricism

Rationalism and empiricism are two approaches to understanding knowledge. Rationalism argues that reason and logic are the primary sources of knowledge, suggesting that certain truths can be known through thought alone, independent of sensory experience. In contrast, empiricism posits that knowledge comes primarily through our senses—what we see, hear, and experience. While rationalists emphasize innate ideas or principles, empiricists believe that we learn about the world through observation and experimentation. Both perspectives contribute to how we gather, verify, and understand information, shaping the foundation of various fields like science, philosophy, and everyday reasoning.