epistemology

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Related terms 1.2.2 Translations 1.3 External links

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐπιστήμη (epistēmē), “‘science, knowledge’”) < ἐπίσταμαι (epistamai), “‘I know’”) + -λογία (logia), “‘discourse’”) from λέγω (legō), “‘I speak’”). The term was introduced into English by the Scottish philosopher James Frederick Ferrier (1808-1864).

[edit] Noun

epistemology (plural epistemologies)

1. (uncountable) The branch of philosophy dealing with the study of knowledge; theory of knowledge, asking such questions as "What is knowledge?", "How is knowledge acquired?", "What do people know?", "How do we know what we know?".

   Some thinkers take the view that, beginning with the work of Descartes, epistemology began to replace metaphysics as the most important area of philosophy.

2. (countable) A particular theory of knowledge.

   In his epistemology, Plato maintains that our knowledge of universal concepts is a kind of recollection.

[edit] Related terms

• epistemic
• epistemological
• epistemological turn
• epistemologist

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• epistemology in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• epistemology in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• epistemology at OneLook® Dictionary Search