What characterizes Hobbes as an empiricist?

Hobbes is characterized as an empiricist primarily due to his view that senses create brain events. This perspective emphasizes that knowledge is derived from sensory experiences rather than inherent ideas or abstract reasoning. Hobbes posited that all thoughts and ideas stem from sensory input; our understanding of the world is built upon the data we gather through our senses. This fundamental belief aligns with the principles of empiricism, which asserts that knowledge arises from empirical evidence and observation rather than innate concepts or pure intellectual reasoning.

His approach contrasts sharply with the notion of innate ideas, which suggests that certain concepts or knowledge are embedded in the human mind from birth. Additionally, while abstract reasoning plays a role in human cognition, Hobbes places greater significance on the interpretation and processing of sensory data. Lastly, disregarding sensory experiences would oppose the tenet of empiricism, which relies heavily on those experiences to form knowledge. Therefore, the central tenet of Hobbes' empiricist philosophy lies in the understanding that sensory experiences are foundational to human thought and comprehension.