In Montaignes essay he attempts to distinguish between

natural laws and those which have been imposed by

human convention.
syllogism
idols
inductive deductive
method
interpretation of nature/ new scientific method
rationalism empiricism
state of nature
existence of god
methodology philosophy
These two latter ways of approaching the question of knowledge are
identified as rationalism and empiricism.
A rationalist epistemology claims that knowledge (as opposed to opinion) is
possible only if it is based on self-evident and absolutely certain principles.
Such principles are not learned through experience; instead, they are implicit
in the very notion of reasoning (in Latin: ratio) itself. Sense experience
cannot provide the certainty needed to guarantee that what we claim to
know is true. So, like mathematicians, we have to rely on reason itself as the
basis for determining whether our opinions are justified true beliefs (that is,
knowledge).

. Empiricists also deny the implication of the

corresponding Innate Concept thesis that we have
innate ideas in the subject area. Sense experience is
our only source of ideas. It entails that knowledge can
only be gained, if at all, by experience.