e·pis·te·mol·o·gy

(ĭ-pĭs′tə-mŏl′ə-jē)

The branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity.

[Greek epistēmē, knowledge (from epistasthai, epistē-, to understand : epi-, epi- + histasthai, middle voice of histanai, to place, determine; see stā- in Indo-European roots) + -logy.]

e·pis′te·mo·log′i·cal (-mə-lŏj′ĭ-kəl) adj.

e·pis′te·mo·log′i·cal·ly adv.

e·pis′te·mol′o·gist n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

epistemology

(ɪˌpɪstɪˈmɒlədʒɪ)

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

[C19: from Greek epistēmē knowledge]

eˌpisteˈmologist n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

e•pis•te•mol•o•gy

(ɪˌpɪs təˈmɒl ə dʒi)

n.

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

[1855–60]

e•pis`te•mo•log′i•cal (-məˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl) adj.

e•pis`te•mo•log′i•cal•ly, adv.

e•pis`te•mol′o•gist, n.

epistemology

the branch of philosophy that studies the origin, nature, methods, validity, and limits of human knowledge. — epistemologist, n. — epistemic, epistemological, adj.

epistemology

1. The study of the nature of knowledge.

2. The critical investigation of knowledge and its validity.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

epistemology - the philosophical theory of knowledge

philosophy - the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics

methodological analysis, methodology - the branch of philosophy that analyzes the principles and procedures of inquiry in a particular discipline

Translations

Epistemologie

γνωσιολογία

gnoséologie

epistemology

[ɪˌpɪstəˈmɒlədʒɪ] N → epistemología f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

epistemology

n → Erkenntnistheorie f, → Epistemologie f (spec)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

epistemology

[ɪˌpɪstəˈmɒlədʒɪ] n → epistemologia

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

If the systemic epistemology is taken separate to postmodernism (Jackson, 2003) or critical realism (Mingers, 2004) then it can be appropriately understood as a form of philosophy in its own right.

Generalization and systemic epistemology: why should it make sense?

Kyburg was eminent both as a philosopher of science and epistemology, and as an AI researcher in uncertain and nonmonotonic reasoning.

In memoriam

The Knowledge Book is Steve Fuller's most recent synthesis of his "social epistemology," a field he contributed to founding twenty years ago when he created the journal Social Epistemology, and released the homonymous book soon after (Social Epistemology, 1988).

Steve Fuller, The Knowledge Book: Key Concepts in Philosophy, Science, and Culture

In "A Red Letter Campus" (by David Black, September-October 2006), Black asks, "What does it mean for a college to be called Christian?" He then answers his question by suggesting that both the college's epistemology and its ethos must reflect the mind and ways of Christ.

Reference points

Given the plethora of challenges practicing teachers face on a daily basis, it would seem that any program that deliberately considers the principles of self-regulated learning and epistemology would certainly help to shape pre-service teacher beliefs about intelligence and provide a foundation for optimism and sound pedagogical practice.

Epistemology, self-regulation and challenge

The first two, concerning ontology and epistemology, constitute the framework of metaphysics.

Ethics man

Epistemology, of the study of knowledge, was a largely philosophical exercise historically.

Second Nature: Brain Science and Human Knowledge

This framework Poovey termed 'historical epistemology' which she defined as the field that "allows for the production of what counts as knowledge at any given time." (20) The epistemological field consists of domains--what constitutes the boundaries and internal rules of a given area of knowledge--, discourses, rationalities and disciplines.

From hegemony to governmentality: changing conceptions of power in social history

Darwin notwithstanding, the clash between science and religion has revealed the need for an evolution in the prevailing approach to epistemology or, in other words, the nature of knowledge.

The search for truth: there is but one truth, parts of which are being discovered by scientists and parts of which are being described by theologians; and the quest for truth, whether through science or religion, can only lead to God

Epistemology first attempts to make experience safe for science, and then, with Kant, to identify the conditions of possibility for the very having of experience.

Book of Jay

In her insistence that political philosophy must be based on a proper epistemology, she rejected the libertarian movement, which embraced a wide variety of reasons for advocating free markets and free minds, as among her enemies.

Ayn Rand at 100: loved, hated, and always controversial, the best-selling author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged is more relevant than ever