What do empiricists mean by the "laws of association"?

Empiricists refer to the "laws of association" as principles that explain how sensory experiences are linked to each other in the process of learning and memory. This concept is rooted in the idea that the mind forms connections between different ideas and experiences based on their occurrences in time and space. For instance, if two stimuli are experienced together repeatedly, they become associated in the mind, leading to the expectation that one will evoke the other when encountered later. This process is fundamental in understanding behavioral learning theories and how individuals come to recognize and respond to various stimuli in their environment. The emphasis on sensory inputs highlights the empiricist viewpoint that knowledge is primarily derived from experience, rather than being a product of innate factors or pre-existing mental structures.