Rationalism and empiricism

Philosophical Tension

The clash between old Earth-centered and new Sun-centered models leading to skepticism.

Copernican Revolution

Proposed that the Earth was not at the center of the universe, challenging the pre-Modern worldview.

Rationalism

A philosophical approach emphasizing reason as the source of knowledge, exemplified by Descartes.

Empiricism

A theory that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience, as argued by John Locke.

Clear and Distinct Ideas

Descartes' assertion that whatever is clearly and distinctly perceived must be true.

Innate Ideas

Concepts that are inborn to humans, according to Descartes; opposed by Locke's empiricism.

Intuitive Knowledge

Immediate understanding of the agreement or disagreement of ideas without reasoning.

Demonstrative Knowledge

Knowledge obtained through a logical chain of reasoning.

Sensitive Knowledge

Knowledge based on sensory perception of present, particular objects.

Locke’s ‘White Paper’ Analogy

Locke's idea that the mind is blank before sensory experiences shape it.

Judgement

A form of reasoning acknowledging beliefs that are probably true but not certainly known.

Galileo

A key figure in the onset of modern research methods, representing a shift from pre-Modern to Modern thought.

Descarte's First Meditation

Doubts everything, leading to the realization 'I think, therefore I am.'

Human Error

Errors occur when humans use free will to accept unclear or confused ideas, according to Descartes.

Locke vs. Descartes

Locke emphasized empirical knowledge from experience, while Descartes focused on rationalism and abstract principles.

Renaissance Conflict

The struggle between old and new views that resulted in philosophical skepticism and debate.

Philosophical Shift

Transition from pre-Modern symbolic thought to Modern systematic observation and research methods.