University Taster

Philosophy – University Taster

  1. 1. Prerequisites
  2. 2. Metaphysics
  3. 3. Epistemology
  4. 4. Ethics
  5. 5. Logic
  6. 6. Philosophy of Mind and Science
  7. 7. Next Steps
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Epistemology is one of the central branches of Philosophy. This field explores the nature of knowledge and belief, investigating what it is to believe something, to know something, and the relationship between the two. The word “epistemology” comes from the Greek words episteme (knowledge) and logos (study), and it is also known as the “theory of knowledge”.

When Did Epistemology Emerge?

In the Western world, the study of knowledge began in Ancient Greece with Philosophers such as Socrates and Plato debating the subject and it has remained a popular topic since then. To this day, contemporary Philosophers continue to ask questions about the nature of knowledge.

Figure 8. Socrates (in olive green) as depicted in The School of Athens, painted by Italian Renaissance artist Raphael.

Beginning with the Ancient Greeks, the field of Epistemology has been primarily concerned with questions such as:

  • What is knowledge?
  • What does it mean to “know” something?
  • How do we gain knowledge?
  • What justifies a belief as being knowledge?
  • What is the criteria for knowledge?

It also asks deeper questions such as:

  • Are our beliefs based on evidence or assumptions?
  • Can we trust our senses to give us accurate information?
  • How can we be sure that what we “know” is true?
  • Can we truly know anything?
  • What can be known or not known?

Note

It is worth noting that Epistemology is largely concerned with propositional knowledge, which means a statement that aims to declare a fact, such as “Cats are animals”, rather than procedural knowledge, which refers to “know-how” like how to drive a car.

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