Apriorism is a philosophical theory that suggests knowledge is attained through reason rather than experience. The word is pronounced /ˌeɪprɪˈɔrɪzəm/ which can be broken down as follows: "ehy-pruh-awr-iz-uhm". The first syllable is pronounced as "ehy" similar to how the letter A is pronounced with an emphasis on the Y sound. The second syllable is pronounced "pruh" and the third syllable sounds like "awr". The last syllable is pronounced as "iz-uhm", with the emphasis on the "iz" sound.
Apriorism is a philosophical concept and epistemological theory that signifies the belief in the existence of innate knowledge or truths. Derived from the Latin term "a priori," which means "from what comes first," apriorism suggests that certain fundamental principles or concepts are known to humans prior to and independent of any experience or empirical evidence. These truths are considered to be self-evident and universally valid.
In apriorism, it is posited that human reason and intellect are capable of comprehending these innate truths through pure thought, without the need for observation or experimentation. These innate truths are often believed to govern various aspects of reality, including morality, logic, mathematics, and metaphysical principles.
Apriorism stands in contrast to empiricism, which asserts that knowledge is derived exclusively from sensory experiences and perceptions. While empiricism emphasizes observation and the collection of data, apriorism posits that knowledge is derived from rational or deductive reasoning.
Apriorism can be traced back to the works of philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and René Descartes. Kant argued that certain concepts or categories, known as the "a priori forms of intuition," are necessary conditions for human understanding and perception. Descartes proposed rationalistic apriorism by claiming that clear and distinct ideas are innate to the mind.
Overall, apriorism asserts the existence of innate knowledge and suggests that humans possess inherent truths that can be grasped independently of empirical evidence.
The word "apriorism" is derived from the Latin term "a priori", which means "from the earlier". In philosophy, "a priori" refers to knowledge or reasoning that is independent of experience or derived from pure reason. The suffix "-ism" is added to indicate a system of beliefs or a philosophical doctrine. Therefore, "apriorism" refers to the philosophical doctrine that emphasizes the existence of knowledge or truths that are independent of experience and can be known through pure reason alone.