Final answer:
Aristotle was an empiricist philosopher, signifying that he believed knowledge comes from sensory experience and empirical observation, which is a cornerstone of the scientific method. His works stress the necessity to study the physical world and serve as a critical foundation for empirical science.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle, often referred to as "the Philosopher" during the Middle Ages, was an empiricist, a view that implies knowledge is derived primarily from sensory experience. This philosophical stance prioritizes empirical evidence, such as that observed in experiments, over a priori reasoning, and maintains that knowledge about the world must first be acquired through the senses before it can be processed by the mind. Indeed, Aristotle and other thinkers like Aquinas emphasize the importance of the senses in acquiring knowledge, suggesting that sensory experiences precede intellectual understanding. Empiricism, notable in the work of Francis Bacon, John Locke, and David Hume, plays a fundamental role in the scientific method. Their work underscores the idea that knowledge is tentative and subject to revision based on new empirical data.
Moreover, for Aristotle, the reality that we can perceive with our senses constitutes the only true reality, as contrasted with Plato, who considered the sensory world a mere shadow of the true, ideal forms. Aristotle's Ethics underlined the necessity to study the physical, sensory-based world to understand relationships, justice, and governance. Hence, being an empiricist philosopher means that Aristotle believed all knowledge comes from experience and empirical observation, and this belief served as a cornerstone for the subsequent development of empirical scientific practices.