Empiricism vs. Realism — What's the Difference?

In philosophy, empiricism is a theory that states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. It is one of several views of epistemology, along with rationalism and skepticism.

An inclination toward literal truth and pragmatism.

The view that experience, especially of the senses, is the only source of knowledge.

The representation in art or literature of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually are, without idealization or presentation in abstract form.

Employment of empirical methods, as in science.

The scholastic doctrine, opposed to nominalism, that universals exist independently of their being thought.

An empirical conclusion.

The modern philosophical doctrine, opposed to idealism, that objects exist independently of their being perceived.

The practice of medicine that disregards scientific theory and relies solely on practical experience.

A concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.

Medicine as practised by an empiric, founded on mere experience, without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles; folk medicine, quackery.

An artistic representation of reality as it is.

(philosophy) A doctrine which holds that the only or, at least, the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience, especially perception by means of the physical senses. (Often contrasted with rationalism.)

(sciences) The viewpoint that an external reality exists independent of observation.

A pursuit of knowledge purely through experience, especially by means of observation and sometimes by experimentation.

(philosophy) A doctrine that universals are real—they exist and are distinct from the particulars that instantiate them.

Used to describe research based on methodology shaped from empirical philosophy (see above), e.g. surveys, statistics, etc.

As opposed to nominalism, the doctrine that genera and species are real things or entities, existing independently of our conceptions. According to realism the Universal exists ante rem (Plato), or in re (Aristotle).

The method or practice of an empiric; pursuit of knowledge by observation and experiment.

Fidelity to nature or to real life; representation without idealization, and making no appeal to the imagination; adherence to the actual fact.

Specifically, a practice of medicine founded on mere experience, without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles; ignorant and unscientific practice; charlatanry; quackery.

The practise of assessing facts and the probabilities of the consequences of actions in an objective manner; avoidance of unrealistic or impractical beliefs or efforts. Contrasted to idealism, self-deception, overoptimism, overimaginativeness, or visionariness.

The philosophical theory which attributes the origin of all our knowledge to experience.

The attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth

(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience

(philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that physical object continue to exist when not perceived

The application of empirical methods in any art or science

The state of being actual or real;

Medical practice and advice based on observation and experience in ignorance of scientific findings

An artistic movement in 19th century France; artists and writers strove for detailed realistic and factual description

(philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their names