TheLastMohican
New member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2008
- Messages
- 328
- MBTI Type
- ENTJ
You have created a false definition. Empiricism is the belief that experience and evidence, as derived from the senses, is the source of true knowledge. "Personal" is not part of the definition, so your explanation is false. We compare our experiences all the time, and it is for that reason we are able to progress. Whereas the rationalist argues that reason is the only source of knowledge. All the while ignoring the reality that reason is based upon observations which were derived from the senses. Reason is the tool of experience, not the other way around.
You think you can get close to obtaining 100% of knowledge? Rationalism, taken to the extreme as it often is by INTJs, is nothing but a defense mechanism designed to protect the ego from the external world. Thus, being "perfectly rational" means creating an objective reality in your head and denying any experience from the outside world which conflicts with it.
I think we passed each other in the dark here. I agree with most of what you are saying, except you say you are describing empiricism.
The Merriam Webster Dictionary definition:
empiricism
Main Entry: em