Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and origin of knowledge.
Different schools argue whether knowledge is innate or acquired.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Rationalism (A): Argues that reason and logic are the primary sources of knowledge, often believing in "innate ideas" (e.g., Descartes, Spinoza).
- Idealism (B): Suggests that reality is fundamentally mentally constructed or immaterial (e.g., Plato, Kant).
- Empiricism (C): Asserts that knowledge is derived from sense-perception and evidence gathered through the five senses. Famous empiricists include John Locke, who described the mind as a \textit{tabula rasa} (blank slate).
- Existentialism (D): Focuses on individual existence, freedom, and choice (e.g., Sartre, Kierkegaard).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Empiricism is the school that emphasizes sensory experience as the source of knowledge.