Definition

1. Noun:
   • A philosophical tradition: "British empiricism" refers to the dominant school of thought in British philosophy from the 17th century onward. It emphasizes that all knowledge originates from sensory experience, rejecting the notion of innate ideas.

Usage

• "British empiricism" is used as a proper noun to name a specific historical and philosophical movement. It is typically discussed in academic contexts related to philosophy, history of ideas, or epistemology.
• It is often contrasted with rationalist traditions, such as those from continental Europe.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The development of modern science was heavily influenced by the principles of British empiricism.
  • Philosophers like John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume are central figures in British empiricism.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used to describe a methodological approach that prioritizes observation and experiment over pure reason or tradition.
  • His research methodology showed a clear commitment to British empiricism.

Variants and Related Words

• Empiricism (n): The broader theory that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience. "British empiricism" is a major historical instance of empiricism.
• Empiricist (n/adj): A person who supports or practices empiricism; relating to empiricism.
  • David Hume was a leading empiricist.

Synonyms

• Empiricist philosophy (in the British context)
• Experimental philosophy (an early term used by some of its proponents)

Different Meanings

• As a proper noun naming a specific tradition, "British empiricism" does not have other common meanings. The core component, "empiricism," can be contrasted with "rationalism" or "idealism."

Related Idioms/Phrases

• While there are no idioms using the exact phrase "British empiricism," the empiricist motto "nothing in the mind that was not first in the senses" encapsulates its central doctrine.

Noun

1. the predominant philosophical tradition in Great Britain since the 17th century