Empirical evidence
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| - | '''Evidence''' is and includes everything that is used to reveal and determine the [[truth]], and therefore is presumed to be true and related to a case. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either (a) presumed to be true, or (b) were in fact proven to be true by earlier evidence (truths) and demonstrates the broadening of the truth of a case. And the collection of evidence is in fact the act of ''determining''; ''what is evidence''. Whereas, the word evidence carries with it the presumption of it (the evidence) ''being seen as true'', the where and how it fits; its relationship in and to the other evidence. In short, it goes from ''determining what is evidence'', to ''evidence is determined''; determining truth, to truth determined. | + | '''Empirical evidence''', '''data''', or '''knowledge''', also known as '''sense experience''', is a collective term for the [[knowledge]] or source of [[knowledge]] acquired by means of the [[senses]], particularly by [[observation]] and [[experiment]]ation. The term comes from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] word for experience, ἐμπειρία (''empeiría''). After [[Immanuel Kant]], it is common in philosophy to call the knowledge thus gained [[A priori and a posteriori|'''''a posteriori'' knowledge''']]. This is contrasted with [[a priori knowledge|''a priori'' knowledge]], the knowledge accessible from [[pure reason]] alone. |
| - | Evidence is the currency by which one fulfills the [[Legal burden of proof|burden of proof]]. | + | |
| - | Many issues surround evidence, making it the subject of much discussion and disagreement. In addition to its subtlety, evidence plays an important role in many academic disciplines, including [[Scientific evidence|science]] and [[evidence (law)|law]], adding to the discourse surrounding it. | + | == Meaning == |
| + | Empirical evidence is information that [[theory of justification|justifies]] a [[belief]] in the truth or falsity of a claim. In the [[empiricism|empiricist]] view, one can claim to have knowledge only when one has a true belief based on empirical evidence. This stands in contrast to the [[rationalism|rationalist]] view under which [[reason]] or reflection alone is considered evidence for the truth or falsity of some [[proposition]]s. The [[sense]]s are the primary source of empirical evidence. Although other sources of evidence, such as [[memory]] and the [[testimony]] of others, ultimately trace back to some sensory experience, they are considered secondary, or indirect. | ||
| - | An important distinction in the field of evidence is that between | + | In another sense, empirical evidence may be synonymous with the outcome of an experiment. In this sense, an empirical result is a unified confirmation. In this context, the term ''semi-empirical'' is used for qualifying theoretical methods that use, in part, basic [[axiom]]s or postulated scientific laws and experimental results. Such methods are opposed to theoretical ''[[ab initio]]'' methods, which are purely [[Deductive reasoning|deductive]] and based on [[first principle]]s. |
| - | [[circumstantial evidence]] and [[direct evidence]], or evidence that suggests truth as opposed to evidence that directly proves truth. Many have seen this line to be less-than-clear and significant arguments have arisen over the difference. | + | |
| + | In [[science]], empirical evidence is required for a hypothesis to gain acceptance in the [[scientific community]]. Normally, this validation is achieved by the [[scientific method]] of [[hypothesis commitment]], [[design of experiments|experimental design]], [[peer review]], [[adversarial review]], [[Scientific Method#Reproducibility|reproduction of results]], conference presentation and [[Scientific literature|journal publication]]. This requires rigorous communication of hypothesis (usually expressed in mathematics), experimental constraints and controls (expressed necessarily in terms of standard experimental apparatus), and a common understanding of measurement. | ||
| - | ==Types of evidence== | + | [[Statement (logic)|Statements]] and [[argument]]s depending on empirical evidence are often referred to as ''[[a posteriori]]'' ("following experience") as distinguished from ''[[A priori and a posteriori|a priori]]'' (preceding it). ''A priori'' knowledge or justification is independent of experience (for example "All bachelors are unmarried"), whereas ''a posteriori'' knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence (for example "Some bachelors are very happy"). The notion of the distinction between ''a priori'' and ''a posteriori'' as tantamount to the distinction between empirical and non-empirical knowledge comes from [[Immanuel Kant|Kant's]] ''[[Critique of Pure Reason]].'' |
| - | *[[Anecdotal evidence]] | + | |
| - | *[[Intuition (knowledge)|Intuition]] | + | The standard [[positivism|positivist]] view of empirically acquired information has been that observation, experience, and experiment serve as neutral arbiters between competing theories. However, since the 1960s, a persistent critique most associated with [[Thomas Kuhn]], has argued that these methods are influenced by prior beliefs and experiences. Consequently it cannot be expected that two scientists when observing, experiencing, or experimenting on the same event will make the same theory-neutral observations. The role of observation as a theory-neutral arbiter may not be possible. Theory-dependence of observation means that, even if there were agreed methods of inference and interpretation, scientists may still disagree on the nature of empirical data. |
| - | *[[Personal experience]] | + | |
| - | *[[Scientific evidence]] | + | |
| - | *[[Testimony|Testimonial]] | + | |
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Falsifiability]] | + | * [[Anecdotal evidence]] |
| - | *[[Logical positivism]] | + | * [[Empirical distribution function]] |
| - | *[[Mathematical proof]] | + | * [[Empirical formula]] |
| - | *[[Proof (truth)]] | + | * [[Empirical measure]] |
| - | *[[Validity]] | + | * [[Empirical research]] (more on the scientific usage) |
| + | * [[Phenomenology (science)]] | ||
| + | * [[Scientific evidence]] | ||
| + | * [[Scientific method]] | ||
| + | * [[Theory]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
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Empirical evidence, data, or knowledge, also known as sense experience, is a collective term for the knowledge or source of knowledge acquired by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation. The term comes from the Greek word for experience, ἐμπειρία (empeiría). After Immanuel Kant, it is common in philosophy to call the knowledge thus gained a posteriori knowledge. This is contrasted with a priori knowledge, the knowledge accessible from pure reason alone.
Meaning
Empirical evidence is information that justifies a belief in the truth or falsity of a claim. In the empiricist view, one can claim to have knowledge only when one has a true belief based on empirical evidence. This stands in contrast to the rationalist view under which reason or reflection alone is considered evidence for the truth or falsity of some propositions. The senses are the primary source of empirical evidence. Although other sources of evidence, such as memory and the testimony of others, ultimately trace back to some sensory experience, they are considered secondary, or indirect.
In another sense, empirical evidence may be synonymous with the outcome of an experiment. In this sense, an empirical result is a unified confirmation. In this context, the term semi-empirical is used for qualifying theoretical methods that use, in part, basic axioms or postulated scientific laws and experimental results. Such methods are opposed to theoretical ab initio methods, which are purely deductive and based on first principles.
In science, empirical evidence is required for a hypothesis to gain acceptance in the scientific community. Normally, this validation is achieved by the scientific method of hypothesis commitment, experimental design, peer review, adversarial review, reproduction of results, conference presentation and journal publication. This requires rigorous communication of hypothesis (usually expressed in mathematics), experimental constraints and controls (expressed necessarily in terms of standard experimental apparatus), and a common understanding of measurement.
Statements and arguments depending on empirical evidence are often referred to as a posteriori ("following experience") as distinguished from a priori (preceding it). A priori knowledge or justification is independent of experience (for example "All bachelors are unmarried"), whereas a posteriori knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence (for example "Some bachelors are very happy"). The notion of the distinction between a priori and a posteriori as tantamount to the distinction between empirical and non-empirical knowledge comes from Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.
The standard positivist view of empirically acquired information has been that observation, experience, and experiment serve as neutral arbiters between competing theories. However, since the 1960s, a persistent critique most associated with Thomas Kuhn, has argued that these methods are influenced by prior beliefs and experiences. Consequently it cannot be expected that two scientists when observing, experiencing, or experimenting on the same event will make the same theory-neutral observations. The role of observation as a theory-neutral arbiter may not be possible. Theory-dependence of observation means that, even if there were agreed methods of inference and interpretation, scientists may still disagree on the nature of empirical data.
See also
- Anecdotal evidence
- Empirical distribution function
- Empirical formula
- Empirical measure
- Empirical research (more on the scientific usage)
- Phenomenology (science)
- Scientific evidence
- Scientific method
- Theory
