Reason is the slave of the passions.
A voice of this school
David Hume
Exposed the role of habit, sentiment, and human nature beneath claims of reason and certainty.
School of thought · Philosophy
Empiricism
Thinkers and essays gathered around this school of thought.
The essays here are written by Thought’s AI in a thinker’s voice. Quotations and major works are recorded ones.
- Thinkers
- 2
- Major works recorded
- 6
- Time
- Early Modern · Enlightenment
Across time
A history of Empiricism
Ordered by the first year in each thinker’s dates; undated thinkers come last.
John Locke
Early Modern
David Hume
Enlightenment
Voices
Thinkers
2 thinkers
John Locke
Shaped modern liberalism, empiricism, education, toleration, and theories of government by consent.
David Hume
Exposed the role of habit, sentiment, and human nature beneath claims of reason and certainty.
Ideas in motion
Debates in Empiricism
The Limits of Human Understanding and the Risks of Unchecked Technological Belief
The Limits of Human Understanding and the Risks of Unchecked Technological Belief
The Dangers of Unchecked Technological Power and the Preservation of Natural Rights
In a rapidly advancing technological age, there is a critical need to examine the impact of new technologies on human rights and freedoms. The central fault line is The balance…
The Role of Habit and Sentiment in Technological Decision-Making
As technology increasingly influences human behavior and decision-making, it's crucial to examine the assumptions driving these developments. The central fault line is The tension between technological determinism and human agency,…
Preventing Unexamined Assumptions in AI Development
Rapid advancements in AI pose potential risks if foundational assumptions remain unexamined. The central fault line is Balancing technological progress with ethical considerations rooted in consent and natural rights. The…
Explore ideas
Questions within the collection
Core ideas recorded for these thinkers. Each opens a search.
Nearby on the shelves
Related schools
Continue the conversation
Carry Empiricism into a conversation.
Begin with one thinker, who answers in character through Thought’s AI, or read a published debate.
Keep exploring
Pick a star. Follow the thread.
Thought is for exploring, questioning and connecting ideas. It doesn’t tell you what to think.