Rationalism and Empiricism

            According to Philosophy, there are two categories from which our thoughts and ideas come from; Rationalism, the idea that we are born with some knowledge that is innate and Empiricism, which is the idea that we are born, not knowing anything and learn everything from experience. I personally believe that we gain knowledge and wisdom from experiences throughout our lives, so Rationalism doesn’t make sense to me. I think this because of racism, no baby is born racist, or with hatred to another being. Since birth they come to a new world and experience complete new things, and don’t even think about the color of their skins or compare themselves to others, this is all taught to them.

            Another example can be when Descartes uses the melting candle. A person who has seen melt, obviously would know where the puddle of wax came from and how it got to that state but a person who has never seen a melting candle wouldn’t have an idea of what a puddle of wax is or how it got to the state that it is in, since they have not experienced it.

           

            Explanatory Breadth: Empiricism explains the origin of more knowledge and ideas than Rationalism, this is the origin of ideas. Rationalism means that some ideas are innate and some from experience, and Empiricism is the idea that knowledge is gained through experience only. It only gives the general idea and doesn’t specify.

            Explanatory Depth: It’s how well an argument explains a source better than the other. Even though they’re both pretty similar, Empiricism is a little better since it has a source.

            Simplicity: Empiricism has more simplicity and is easier to understand. It states all knowledge that comes from experience and Rationalism doesn’t.

            Conservatism: Both views are good, common theories and can be perceived well with different views but they’re pretty much the same.

1. Empiricism and Rationalism are the most plausible explanations of the origin of knowledge.

2. Empiricism has more explanatory breadth, depth and simplicity. Rationalism and Empiricism have the same conservatism.

3. Therefore Empiricism is the best explanation of knowledge.