Sensory and Empirical Cognition in Science

The similarities, differences, and interrelations between two qualitatively distinct levels of scientific knowledge — sensory and empirical — have been examined. Their essential distinctions were demonstrated in terms of both subject matter (ontology) and methodology. It is noted that the sensory level of scientific knowledge is represented by a set of sensory models (“images”) of real objects, whereas the empirical level is represented by a set of abstract (mental) objects derived from the sensory models of objective reality. It is shown that the empirical level of knowledge is not a mere generalization of the content of sensory knowledge, but constitutes a specific cognitive construct in which new content is added to sensory reality. It is concluded that no logical derivability exists between the content of sensory and empirical knowledge in science. The connection between these levels is recognized, yet it is of a constructive-interpretive nature.

 EDN CMUNCI

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