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MENTAL MODEL · M3393

Empiricism

Empiricism
StructureHigh supportLogic
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The view that knowledge primarily comes from sensory experience and evidence, rather than pure rational deduction. Emphasizes experimentation and observation.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Testing is king. Don't speculate in the meeting room. Go to the field, test, and get first-hand data. If theory and experiment disagree, the theory is wrong.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Empiricism holds that knowledge primarily originates from sensory observation and empirical evidence, and reason must be grounded in experience and subject to its test. The mechanism is: if a theory does not align with repeatable observations or experiments, the theory should be revised or discarded—evidence has the final say. It opposes establishing truth solely through a priori deduction or authoritative assertion, emphasizing 'testing is king.'

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EmpiricismZH · Explicit
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