epistemology
Sayi-pis-tuh-MOL-uh-jee/ɪˌpɪstəˈmɑləd͡ʒi//ɪˌpɪstəˈmɒləd͡ʒi/
Pluralepistemologies (some meanings)
- 1The part of philosophy that asks what knowledge is and how we know things are true.
In her first philosophy class, she learned that epistemology asks how we can be sure of anything.
He wrote his college paper on epistemology and the limits of what people can know.
Note
- 2One person's or group's own ideas about what knowledge is and how we get it.
Her epistemology says we learn most things from experience.
The class compared the epistemologies of three ancient thinkers.
UsageOften said with a name: Kant's epistemology.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of epistemology apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
It comes from Greek words meaning “knowledge” and “study”. A Scottish philosopher, James Frederick Ferrier, brought the word into English philosophical writing.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts
- The word has a Greek root meaning knowledge. en.wiktionary.org
- The word has a Greek element denoting study. en.wiktionary.org
- James Frederick Ferrier was a Scottish philosopher. en.wikipedia.org
- The word was used in English in 1847, before Ferrier introduced it as a label for a branch of philosophy in 1854. en.wikipedia.org