<p>epistemology </p><p>Branch of philosophy that investigates the possibility, origins, nature, and extent of human knowledge. There has been an extended dispute between rationalism and empiricism over the respective importance of a priori and a posteriori origins. rationalism </p><p>Theory that reliance on reason is the only reliable source of human knowledge. Rationalism is the epistemological theory that significant knowledge of the world can best be achieved by a priori means; it therefore stands in contrast to empiricism. empiricism </p><p>Reliance on experience as the source of ideas and knowledge. More specifically, empiricism is the epistemological theory that genuine information about the world must be acquired by a posteriori means, so that nothing can be thought without first being sensed. a priori / a posteriori </p><p>Distinction between judgments, propositions, concepts, ideas, arguments, or kinds of knowledge. In each case, the a priori is taken to be independent of sensory experience, while an a posteriori argument relies upon specific information derived from sense perception. Thus, for example: "3 + 4 = 7." may be known a priori, OR “if we know A=B, and B=C, then we necessarily know that A=C “ while "Chicago is located on Lake Michigan." is known only a posteriori, OR “All swans are white” skepticism </p><p>Belief that some or all human knowledge is impossible. Since even our best methods for learning about the world sometimes fall short of perfect certainty, skeptics argue, it is better to suspend belief than to rely on the dubitable products of reason… Doubting, Questioning, seeking Evidence or Proof of any belief before accepting or denying.</p><p>“nature vs. nurture” :: “innate ideas” vs. “blank slate” Enlightenment (Age of Enlightenment) </p><p>An intellectual movement which began in England in the seventeenth century, but then spread to have eventual influence over all sections of the world. The term "Enlightenment," rooted in an intellectual skepticism to traditional beliefs and dogmas, denotes an "illumined" contrast to the supposed dark and superstitious character of the Middle Ages. The Enlightenment focused on the power and goodness of human rationality. Some of the more characteristic doctrines of the Enlightenment are: 1) Reason is the most significant and positive capacity of the human; 2) reason enables one to break free from primitive, dogmatic, and superstitious beliefs holding one in the bonds of irrationality and ignorance; 3) reason makes all humans equal and, therefore, deserving of equal liberty and treatment before the law; 4) through philosophical and scientific progress, reason can lead humanity as a whole to a state of earthly perfection (progress / utopia); 5) beliefs of any sort should be accepted only on the basis of reason, and not on traditional or priestly authority…</p>