Reflective Empiricism: Bias Reflection and Introspection as a Scientific Method

Reflective Empiricism extends empirical science by treating subjective perception and conscious processes as equally valid sources of knowledge. Reality is understood as an interplay of subjective experience and objective laws, accessible through systematic introspection, bias reflection, and premise-based logical-explorative modeling. The approach offers a method for recognizing biases, building premise-based models from observed phenomena, and treating Eureka moments as starting points for hypotheses that are later tested empirically. The author applies self-observation, such as analyzing belief formation, to demonstrate the method. Rooted in references like Archimedes' intuition and the quantum observer effect, Reflective Empiricism aims to enrich empirical research and accelerate knowledge creation by integrating anomalies and subjective depth, without replacing standard empirical methods.

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Abstract

This paper introduces Reflective Empiricism, an extension of empirical science that incorporates subjective perception and consciousness processes as equally valid sources of knowledge. It views reality as an interplay of subjective experience and objective laws, comprehensible only through systematic introspection, bias reflection, and premise-based logical-explorative modeling. This approach overcomes paradigmatic blindness arising from unreflected subjective filters in established paradigms, promoting an adaptable science. Innovations include a method for bias recognition, premise-based models grounded in observed phenomena to unlock new conceptual spaces, and Eureka moments - intuitive insights - as starting points for hypotheses, subsequently tested empirically. The author's self-observation, such as analyzing belief formation, demonstrates its application and transformative power. Rooted in philosophical and scientific-historical references (e.g., Archimedes' intuition, quantum observer effect), Reflective Empiricism connects physics, psychology, and philosophy, enhancing interdisciplinary synthesis and accelerating knowledge creation by leveraging anomalies and subjective depth. It does not seek to replace empirical research but to enrich it, enabling a more holistic approach to phenomena that have not yet been fully grasped. A subsequent body of the author's work is presented as case studies demonstrating the application of the method introduced here.