The term 'empirical'

Question

&lt;p&gt;Hello, as a foreigner as well as a translation of Samael, I've been wondering about Samael's use of the term 'empirical'  in a critical sense. From a dictionary I've found out, however, out that it refers to also - along with 'experientual' - some kind of &quot;charlatan&quot; (the term often used nowadays as a depreciative title for some alternative medicine practicioners). So is this the reason for Samael's use of the word in critical context? With gratitude, Jussi&lt;/p&gt;

Benedictus · Accepted Answer

Empirical, within philosophical and Gnostic paradigms, relates to the beliefs formulated by the Sensual Mind, or what we perceive through the limitations of our five physical senses.  To be empirical indicates concrete thought, or the knowledge we formulate based on physical experience.  Gnosis seeks to go beyond empirical thought to metaphysical or divine experiential knowledge.  Empiricism is a very famous branch of philosophy, renown by David Hume and contradicted, refuted by others like Kant.