Abstract
Manuel’s theory of knowledge focuses on the way people perceive the reality of things, basing on their prior experiences. The theory states that, the ability to understand something is rooted from the prior experience with a similar situation. More precisely this theory of knowledge tries to examine in depth; the relationship between rationalism and empirialism.
To a greater extent, Manuel succeeds in bringing out the distinction between rationalism and empirialism and also showing the link between the two. This research paper will therefore bring out the links that exist between rationalism, and imperialism in real life applications.
Introduction
Rationalism can be defined as the ability to sense using prior experience, over a certain complex life situation. At a more precise level, rationalists are those individuals who judge issues or situations basing on what they already know (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
Emperialism on the other hand refers to the ability to determine how a past experience, can influence the choices that we make by first applying a sensory test. Basing on this statement, therefore, empirialists have to carry out a rigorous test to determine the relationship between the decisions that individuals make, and the prior knowledge affecting the decisions making. Rationalism and empirialism according to Manuel are interrelated in the sense that, they complement each other (Manuel, 2011: 254-260). On the above basis, therefore, both rationalists and empirialsts seem to perceive different phenomena on the same basis but just that they vary in their methods of introspection.
Rationalism
According to Manuel, rationalists vary in their levels to see the insight of issues depending on an individual’s various experiences; which vary in magnitude from one individual to another. In this respect therefore rationalists differ in their views depending on their understanding of various situations, which they have experience (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
In rationalism, the ability to see the insight of things is called institution; which depends on the knowledge gained before, different from the current one and the interrelation between the two. These two different situations are incorporated in the mind; after which then the mind strikes at a point of bringing the two situations together; so as to be able to judge the latter one basing on the former. As Manuel argues, this is the innate knowledge of reality that helps individuals to make judgments over two different situations in their day-to-day activities (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
Empirialism
Empirialism is the ability to use the senses to determine or judge a situation; so as to make a decision basing the outcome of the sensory experience. The decisions made afterward are determined by the ability to relate the outcome of the latter situation, with a prior experience. Emperialists, therefore, don’t believe in independent reasoning as they assert that; it is out of a prior experience that decision-making concerning the results of a test carried out using the senses that individuals have (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
The link between rationalism and imperialism
Manuel combined empirialism and rationalism and asserted that these two concepts are interrelated and that they complement each other in a way. As it is in emperialism, individuals have to involve themselves by using their senses so as to make a judgment, which he linked with rationalism in the sense that; in both, individuals have to apply their prior acquired knowledge so as to make a decision over an issue.
It can clearly be seen that in both two concepts; past experience is a basic instrument to help arrive at a decision. Manuel also noted that rationalists at one point were empirialists in the sense that; they used their senses to learn a situation whereby it is through this past experience that they inter-relate issues in making a decision. More specifically, both rationalists and empirialists apply a common ability to relate the current situation with a prior one; before making any judgment or decision (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
‘The Synthetic a Priori Statement of Mathematics and Natural Science’
As Manuel argued, ‘The Synthetic’ which is a statement used in natural science as well as in mathematics; can be well understood in both disciplines either through rationalism or empirialism. Rationalists argue that from instituting a situation we now come to a deduction that involves making conclusions of what we have perceived, from a given situation. From the above statement, knowledge gained from two independent experiences can be interrelated in the sense that; the mind has to link any two experiences and try to bring some relationship between the two (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
‘The synthetic’ as known in mathematics; through sensory experience can also be linked to another known through natural science at which a rigorous test was carried out. Mathematicians learn the concept of ‘the synthetic’ theoretically and in any case of any other related phenomenon, the former knowledge can be used to judge the latter which is done by rationalists. Empirialists on the other hand, have to involve a rigorous sense experience so as to come up with clear results of what a phenomenon is; and then relate it with a prior one so as to make a decision concerning the phenomenon (Manuel, 2011: 254-260).
Conclusion
Empirialism and rationalism are two concepts that seem to be different yet they are highly related to being distanced. From the research, therefore, it has been revealed that both empirialism and rationalism are two concepts, which can be combined to explain various phenomena. As it has been revealed, both rationalists and empirialsts have been found to have a common base of argument concerning their understanding of various phenomena, founded on their prior knowledge of a related phenomenon.
Work cited
Manuel, Velasquez. “Introduction to Philosophy”, 11th Edition. New York: Worth Publishers. 2011: 251-265.