epistemology

[ ih-pis-tuh-mol-uh-jee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge.

epistemology

/ ɪˌpɪstɪˈmɒlədʒɪ /

the theory of knowledge, esp the critical study of its validity, methods, and scope

epistemology

The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and origin of knowledge. Epistemology asks the question “How do we know what we know?”

e·pis·te·mo·log·i·cal [ih-pis-t, uh, -m, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
e·piste·molo·gist noun

First recorded in 1855–60; from Greek epistḗm(ē) “knowledge” + -o- + -logy

C19: from Greek epistēmē knowledge

He may never have heard the word epistemology, but his theory of knowledge is essentially the same as Platos.

This suggests that a strictly monistic epistemology, whether idealistic or realistic, does not get rid of the problem.

It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to draw a hard and fast line between epistemology and other branches of philosophy.

Moral philosophy was the center of his teaching, and epistemology was only instrumental.

But there is another side of the problem which is, perhaps, of more importance and which epistemology generally overlooks.

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