non-empiricism
|non-em-pi-ris-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnɛmˈpɪrɪsɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnɛmˈpɪrɪsɪzəm/
rejection of experience-based knowledge
Etymology
'non-empiricism' originates from English, specifically the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') combined with 'empiricism' (the doctrine formed from 'empirical' + '-ism').
'Empiricism' comes via Modern Latin and Middle French from Greek 'empeiria' (ἐμπειρία) meaning 'experience'; the suffix '-ism' formed the noun 'empiricism' in English (17th–18th century). The negating prefix 'non-' (from Latin/Old French usage) was later attached to form 'non-empiricism' to denote opposition to that doctrine.
Initially, elements of the term referred simply to 'not empiricism' (literally negating the doctrine). Over time it has been used both technically (to denote specific philosophical positions opposing empiricism) and more broadly (to describe tendencies to ignore empirical evidence).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a philosophical stance or doctrine that rejects empiricism — the view that knowledge primarily comes from sensory experience — and instead emphasizes a priori reasoning, intuition, revelation, or other non-empirical sources.
The scholar's book argued that non-empiricism played a significant role in the development of early metaphysical systems.
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Noun 2
a tendency or practice (in science, criticism, or everyday reasoning) to disregard empirical evidence in favor of theory, doctrine, or authority.
Critics accused the committee of non-empiricism when it continued to endorse policies despite contrary data.
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Last updated: 2025/10/26 18:58