For a long time, philosophers have fiercely debated the classification of philosophical epistemology into two categories: rationalism and empiricism. Empiricism is the idea that knowledge can only be acquired by obtaining facts through observation or experimentation, while rationalism acquires knowledge through logical reasoning. Although rationalism and empiricism are very viable methods of thinking in philosophy, the arguments of these philosophical schools become much stronger when used in conjunction. This is mainly because by following empiricism we gain knowledge through observation which we will be able to interpret using rationalism. Using these two methods together would allow philosophical thinkers to approach many questions in a more holistic manner. This way of thinking is very reminiscent of the scientific method, and this method has proven itself time and time again throughout history. If the scientific method were not an effective way to solve scientific problems, scientists using it would have invented a new way to gather information. However, this method remains sound, and a combination of empiricism and rationalism would prove equally effective. Furthermore, these two methods of thinking complement each other quite well. For example, scientists often wonder about the origins of the universe. Most of them rely on the Big Bang theory, which is commonly explained as a "violent event" caused by the expansion of a "single point in space" (Big Bang). However, no one knows what happened before the Big Bang because there is no evidence to support anything that existed before. At this point a rational approach must be taken to deduce the origins of the scientific method, the combination of these two philosophical schools proves to be an effective method of thinking because it offers a holistic approach to the truth itself. Works CitedAquinas, Thomas. “Theological Sum.” Classics of Philosophy. Ed. Louis P. Pojman and Lewis Vaughn. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. 443-53. Print “The Big Bang”. NASA Science. Internet. November 22, 2011. .Descartes, René. “Meditations on the First Philosophy.” Classic library. 2001. Internet. November 22, 2011. .Hume, David. “An Inquiry into Human Understanding.” Secular web: atheism, agnosticism, naturalism, skepticism and secularism. Internet. November 22. 2011. .