Final answer:
The belief that people are born as blank slates and shaped by experiences is known as tabula rasa, a key concept in John Locke's empiricism and philosophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that people are born as blank slates and their experiences shape who they become is known as tabula rasa. This philosophical notion, championed by thinkers like John Locke, David Hume, and Ibn Sina, posits that at birth, human minds are like blank slates without any innate knowledge. Our knowledge and personalities are formed through sensory experiences and reflections on those experiences. According to Locke, in his work An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, all human understanding arises from experience, which is a fundamental principle of empiricism. As we interact with our environment, we accumulate knowledge, leading to the formation of ideas and concepts.