CC100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Empiricism, Operationalization, Natural Product
Document Summary
How we form our opinions of reality has been the subject of numerous philosophical debates and social science studies. Perspective is influenced by the way we have been socialized, by our individual psychological makeup, and even by such biological factors as diet and environmental conditions. Rationalism: the principle that some kinds of knowledge are innate and others can be acquired through reasoning, independent of experience. Empiricism: the principle that knowledge is acquires only through experience. Criminological knowledge is used to formulate or test theories inform policy, and issue social and political responses to criminological concerns. Authority: when an authority (teacher, parent, expert) says that something is so, we often accept it as fact, using an expert to affirm our belief lends credibility to it. Observation: seeing things for ourselves instead of relying on second hand information or opinions of others.
