unempirical
- adjective
- /ˌʌnɪmˈpɪrɪkəl/
- At first, the emphasis was placed chiefly on the "empirical" modes of inquiry, rejecting historical and interpretive modes as unempirical, if not unscientific.
Examples
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Many theories in philosophy are criticized as unempirical because they lack direct evidence from experiments.
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In the words of David de Snow, EO Wilson once argued that the reductionist science will one day correct the unempirical humanities.
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The debate focused on how unempirical beliefs can hinder scientific progress by not relying on observable data.
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Without unempirical support, the claims made in the article were often dismissed by the scientific community.
Synonyms
Not supported by facts or proof
Not based on careful tests and reliable facts
Not backed by facts or proof
Not based on science or scientific evidence
A claim with no facts or proof to show it is true
Not based on observation or testing but on ideas and reasoning
Not supported by facts
Not proven to be true by tests or studies
Not supported by facts or evidence
Not able to be proved with evidence
Antonyms
How Empirical
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unempirical breaks into un- meaning 'not' and empirical, which comes from a root meaning 'experience' and is the same idea as in experience and experiment. So unempirical means 'not based on experience or real evidence', which is why we use it for ideas or claims without data.