Definition
Sensualism is a philosophical theory that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. It emphasizes the role of the senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) in acquiring information about the world. It means our understanding is built upon what we perceive through our senses. There are no innate ideas; everything is learned through sensation. It's the opposite of believing in intuition or reason as primary sources of knowledge. Think of it like learning to play an instrument: you learn by hearing the sounds, feeling the keys, and seeing the notes.