Empiricism and Rationalism

                    Empiricism vs Rationalism has been a long debated subject. Rationalist believe that some of the ideas or knowledge we have are innate while empiricist argue that all the ideas or knowledge that we have come from our experiences. Both theories have merit but Empiricism is more plausible argument because it is the best argument that explains the origin of idea best and more in depth and it is less complicated than rationalism.  

               The ‘wax analogy’ given by philosopher Descartes, was attempt to prove that ideas are innate. However what Descartes failed to realize is that it is through experiences, not innately, that we identify the changes of the wax. It is through our experiences that we understand that things change, they can change shape, color or weight. Through what we experience we know that due to the change of environment (eg. Temperatures) the shape or weight of something can be radically changed. Like the wax, it is through our experience with the changing of environment that we know that it is still wax even after it has been melted. We know that because through observing materials, heat tends to change its form to liquid.

            In terms of explanatory breadth empiricism better explains the origin of ideas. Empiricism makes a blanket statement that says all ideas originate from experiences, leaving no doubt to where ideas come from. However, rationalism leaves room for doubt, they never explain how to differentiate what is have experienced from what is innate. For example is the idea of God innate? Are people born with the idea that there is a supernatural force out there? Did God place that idea in our thoughts from birth, making it innate? Or was it through experiences in life that we developed the idea of God. Our entire senses observe the world in all its grandeur, many infer that there must be a God. But if God created us, as many Rationalist believe then wouldn't he put in us the idea of him, making it innate? It is not clear how to differentiate the two, rationalist leave too much doubt in there explanation making it a weak explanation.

            In terms of explanatory depth, empiricism explains the origin of certain ideas in greater detail than Rationalism.  Empiricist go in to more depth on how and why ideas originate from experiences. They go to prove their argument through detailed theories like evolution, gravity and law of motion. Through theories like gravity and law of motion we get a much more detailed look on how ideas come to be through experiences.

            Rationalism is the more complex argument, while empiricism is simpler. Empiricist simply states that all our ideas come from experience. Rationalism is more complex it has various parts. The first part is that rationalist believe ‘some’ ideas are idea but how do we know which ones are innate? The second part is that they believe the rest of our ideas derive from experience but how do we differentiate the two? How do I know which idea derived from which part? All these questions and different parts make it much more complex than empiricism.

            In terms of Conservatism, empiricism is more current and aligns itself with today’s common sense belief than Rationalism. As stated before empiricism is the simpler argument, people can wrap there head around the concept that through experience ideas originate. Much of science is founded on empiricism, theories such as law of motion, spontaneous generation and gravity are all common beliefs, making empiricism the argument most people align with.

       In conclusion, while both sides have merit empiricism is the more plausible argument for it explains the origin of ideas better than rationalism, it also is a lot less complicated than rationalism so it is easier to understand.

1.       Empiricism and rationalism are the most plausible explanation of the origin of ideas.

2.       Empiricism has more explanatory breadth, depth and is simpler whereas rationalism is more complex and lacks explanatory depth.

3.       Therefore, Empiricism is the best explanation of the origin of idea.