Empiricism and Rationalism have played a major role in the development of Western thought. Both of them try to give an explanation of the manner in which knowledge is obtained. Rationalism is normal knowledge based on reason while empiricism its knowledge foundation is based on experience (Descartes, 3). In my view, I think empiricism offers a better foundation of knowledge. Therefore this paper is going to discuss both rationalism and empiricism and as well explain the reason as to why I prefer empiricism to be the best foundation of knowledge.
Empiricism is offered a better foundation of knowledge because it relies on the sense of experience. This is actually the most ideal foundation of knowledge because when humans use their senses be it the sense of smell, sight, hearing or touch, they acquire knowledge of something they interact with (Descartes, 4 ). These senses are the ones that give us raw data about what we interact within the world. Therefore without this raw material, humans would not be able to acquire knowledge at all. This raw material is in its purest form without manipulation or influenced by any factor. Like it has always been said, the experience is the best teacher; the sense of experience is indeed the best foundation of knowledge.
Empiricism tends to be natural. Perception and understanding of the natural phenomenon and other aspects such as beliefs are based on the sense of experience. We are convinced when we get to see, hear, touch or taste something on our own and therefore develop knowledge about it upon the experience (Descartes, 11). In practice, people tend to learn and have a better understanding of certain situation out of an experience.
On the other hand, rationalism offers the foundation of knowledge based on reason rather senses. In essence, without prior principles and senses supported by reason, it would be impossible to organize and make an interpretation of our sense of experience at all (Descartes, 22). We would be faced with senses of experiences that signify nothing. Rationalism offers a foundation of knowledge out of its self-evident propositions. However, rationalism is based on innate ideas, the concepts that have been obtained from birth being as the foundation of other ideas.
To sum up, empiricism offers the most ideal foundation of knowledge. This is because it bases its foundation of knowledge on the sense of experience which is in its pure form. Like the famous phrase which says that the experience is the best teacher; the sense of experience is indeed the best foundation of knowledge. People acquire knowledge out of what they experience, they learn from what they go through which is aided by their senses of touch, sight, hearing, and taste. These senses are the ones that give us raw data about what we interact within the world. Therefore without this raw material, humans would not be able to acquire knowledge at all. For instance, when an infant tastes sugar for the first time then feels that it tastes sweet, out of that experience, the child will acquire the knowledge that sugar is sweet. Alternatively, I find rationalism not offering the most ideal foundation of knowledge. Our innate ideas may have been distorted by some psychological or developmental disorders such as childhood amnesia. Because of this, rationalism is offered less foundation of knowledge as compared to empiricism since rationalism relies on innate ideas obtained from childhood.