Final answer:
David Lewis's view that possible worlds are real and similar to the actual world can be consistent with empiricism, as it relies on empirical evidence and observation of the actual world.
Step-by-step explanation:
David Lewis's belief that possible worlds are real and exist independently from our own actual world can still be consistent with empiricism, despite the lack of epistemic access to other possible worlds. Empiricism is a philosophical position that emphasizes the role of experience and observation in acquiring knowledge. While we may not have direct access to other possible worlds, Lewis's view aligns with empiricism by basing our understanding of possible worlds on empirical evidence and observation of the actual world.
Although there may be no epistemic access to other possible worlds, Lewis argues that possible worlds are similar to our actual world in terms of their properties and causal relations. This means that we can use our empirical knowledge of the actual world to make inferences and reason about other possible worlds. For example, we can observe cause-effect relationships in the actual world and infer that similar causal relations exist in other possible worlds.
In essence, while we may not have direct knowledge or access to other possible worlds, Lewis's view allows for the application of empiricism by basing our understanding of possible worlds on empirical evidence and observations of the actual world.