Discussion: Empiricism and Rationalism
Empiricists contend that our knowledge of the empirical world comes solely from sense experience. Rationalists argue that we can come to know what the world is like from pure unaided reason. The empiricists include philosophers like Locke, Berkeley and Hume. The rationalists count Plato and Descartes among others as belonging to their camp.
• Compare and Contrast Empiricism and Rationalism
• Express and discuss your view
Write two paragraphs on which of these schools of thought best explains where knowledge comes from and why? Try to refer to some of the arguments we have read about in both schools of thought.