Final answer:
The belief that accurate knowledge of the world is gained through observations is known as empiricism, a philosophy wherein knowledge is derived from sensory experiences and is fundamental to the scientific method. Hence, option (a) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that accurate knowledge of the world requires observations of it is called empiricism. This philosophical standpoint suggests that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. Empiricism is a fundamental component of the scientific method, which involves forming hypotheses and theories, and testing them against observations of the natural world.
Empiricism stands in contrast to rationalism, which asserts that knowledge is derived from logical reasoning, rather than sensory experience. Notable empiricists such as John Locke believed the mind begins as a tabula rasa, or blank slate, and that all knowledge is acquired through experiences. The empirical way of knowing champions the scientific process of observation and experimentation to ascertain the accuracy of knowledge.