idealismA philosophical worldview asserting that reality is fundamentally mental, rather than physical.
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A theory that suggests that ideas and thoughts are the only true reality, not physical objects."One element of idealism says that physical objects do not exist unless perceived by a mind."
empiricismThe theory that knowledge and thought are primarily based on sensory experience.
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The philosophical belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience."Empiricism holds that we can only know what we have experienced through our senses."
rationalismThe belief that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge.
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A theory that suggests that we gain knowledge through the use of reason, rather than through observation or experience."According to rationalism, logic and reason should be the main source of our beliefs."
ontologyThe philosophical study of the nature of being and existence, of what things are, and how they exist.
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The branch of philosophy that explores the nature of existence or being."Ontology encompasses a wide variety of topics such as the nature of time, substances, objects, and abstract entities."
epistemologyThe philosophical study of knowledge, truth, and the nature of justification.
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A branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge."Epistemology deals with questions like 'What can we know?' and 'How do we know it?' "