Final answer:
Empiricism is the theory that knowledge is derived from sensory experience and is often associated with scientific inquiry, which stresses testing ideas against the natural world. It has, however, been critiqued for not fully accounting for non-sensory knowledge, such as in mathematics or logic. Empiricism could offer a contrast to Grendel's existential views by privileging concrete experience over abstract thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
Empiricism Defined
Empiricism is an epistemological stance in which knowledge is seen as primarily coming from sensory experience. This view holds that the mind starts out as a blank slate (tabula rasa) and all knowledge is accumulated through experiences. Figures such as Bacon, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Mill are prominent empiricists who have argued that our understanding of the world must come from a posteriori knowledge - that which is gained after we have experienced it directly through our senses. Empirical evidence is therefore central to the formation of ideas rather than any innate cognition or intuition.
Empiricism and Science
In the realm of science, empiricism underscores the necessity of evidence obtained through experimentation. As part of the scientific method, hypotheses and theories must concur with observations of the natural world, ensuring that knowledge remains tentative and always open to revision or falsification.
Limitations of Empiricism
However, critics of empiricism point out its limitations in explaining non-sensory forms of knowledge such as those in mathematics and logic. In addition, empiricists often have difficulty accounting for knowledge that extends beyond direct experience, such as the concepts of the universe or subatomic particles.
Empiricism versus Grendel's Existential Views
Grendel's existential views, presumably from the novel by John Gardner, show a character tormented by philosophical questions about meaning and existence. Empiricism could replace his existential pondering by shifting focus from abstract contemplation to concrete experiences.