Rationalism and empiricism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rationalism and empiricism - Essay Example On the contrary, justification involves development of knowledge through acquaintance. Epistemology compartmentalize synthesis and evolution of knowledge into five groups namely; empiricism, rationalism, idealism, constructivism and historical (Lawhead 23). Conventionally, there is a substantial conflict between empiricism and rationalism. In this essay, succeeding sections will discuss in detail about fundamental concepts of both empiricism and rationalism. Prior to dissecting the two knowledge generation models of empiricism and rationalism, it is appropriate to acknowledge the two concepts of priori and posteriori knowledge. Basically, the Latin term ‘priori’ means before while ‘posteriori’ means after. Therefore, priori knowledge refers to any type of knowledge synthesized without relation to observations or experience. Knowledge derived from logical inferences, for example 2 + 2 = 4, is priori in form. This means that any subsequent observation or experience cannot alter the outcome of knowledge. On the contrary, posteriori knowledge is synthesized only after consideration to relevant observations or experiences. Nowadays, posteriori knowledge is popularly referred to as empirical knowledge (Lawhead 42). Proponents of posteriori knowledge assert that no knowledge can be developed prior to consideration of underlying observation or experience. Therefore, priori knowledge is arrived at through reasoning, whi le posteriori knowledge is synthesized from facts generated from empirical activities. At this juncture, it becomes evident that rationalism conforms to principles of priori knowledge. On the contrary, empiricism has close synchronization with the principles of posteriori knowledge. Technically, rationalism involves development of knowledge through innate intelligence and deductive reasoning. Pythagoras, who features as the father of rationalism, asserts that every man has an inherent ability to reason.

Social and Cultural Changes after the First and Second World Wars Essay

Social and Cultural Changes after the First and Second World Wars - Essay Example The political situation was polarized with Soviet Union focusing on national security and the US spreading the democracy that led to repartition of Europe (McCauley, 2008). With one form of totalitarianism defeated, with the ashes of Nazism literally scattered among the living and dead of that conflict, the tensions between East and West renewed themselves. In some respects, the Cold War was inevitable: the incompatibility between communism and capitalism, the differing opinions about the rights of man, cultural and ideological disagreements about the most profound issues including religion, personal identity, freedom of assembly, democracy -- all of these differences would (and did) come to the fore between the United States, Western Europe and the Soviet Union. And all of these differences were party the outcome of the WWI and WWII. The brutal reality of the wars contributed to the development of medical thought. A lot of soldiers were wounded and injured; their treatment became the upfront priority for the countries involved in the conflict as they have already lost a lot of men. The field of plastic surgery was rapidly developing as many men needed immediate treatment. (Hunt, 2009). Psychological damages that soldiers received also needed assistance. The work of psychologists cannot be underestimated (Merriman, 2010). All these demands forced the medical field to evolve and develop at an unprecedented speed. The field of vaccination industry was developing and was as effective as never before. Vaccine innovations were able to tackle such diseases as influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia that took millions of lives in the past. The work of doctors and scientists contributed to the mass production and usage of penicillin and developed vaccines that were able to prevent various diseases across the world (Hoyt, 2006).