Epistemology: The Study of How Knowledge Is Formed

Epistemology will be defined because the scientific study of data. In general, it deals with the conditions under which knowledge is produced. However, it’s real rationale it points to the necessity to validate knowledge, i.e. to separate what is taken into account true from what shouldn’t be.

Epistemology is taken into account considered one of the oldest branches of philosophy. In fact, the primary reflections on this topic were present in ancient Greece, in such famous thinkers as Plato and Aristotle. In the next article you’ll learn a bit more about epistemology: what it’s, what are its branches, functions and applications.

What is epistemology?

The ancient Greeks distinguished three forms or levels of data:

• dox: The term was first utilized by Parmenides after which by Plato. It is expounded to opinions and beliefs.
• episteme: This is the concept closest to what we call “science” today. for Plato, episteme it was knowledge to be accepted as true, while Aristotle believed it to be a method to understanding reality.
• Gnosis: It is connected with personal experiences and observations. It is more related to spirituality or mysticism.

According to his etymologythe concept we’re concerned with comes from the connection of the voice episteme (knowledge) z logo (test). Therefore, Epistemology will be defined because the science of data.

Of course, throughout history, various authors have proposed their very own definitions. For the famous philosopher Mario Bungaepistemology deals with the technique of scientific inquiry and its product: scientific knowledge.

Additionally, Guillermo Briones points out that this discipline seeks to know the article of study of science by analyzing its philosophical assumptions, in addition to the hidden values, the structures of its theories, and the methods used to gather and interpret data, confirm or disprove theorems.

In short, this branch of philosophy is chargeable for studying various elements related to the production of data. These include the foundations on which it rests, its origins, nature, limitations, and even validity and quality, critical evaluation of the method that leads to really scientific knowledge and the formulation of laws.

Knowledge questions

In his book Theoretical knowledge, Johannes Hessen analyzes quite a lot of questions which have at all times been raised in epistemology. These questions will be regarded as a place to begin for anyone who desires to delve into reflection.

In a way, how these questions are answered determines the approach or position taken in relation to knowledge and the ways of its production. Let’s take a have a look at what they’re.

What is knowledge?

This query will be answered in alternative ways. From a phenomenological perspective, knowledge it is taken into account as an act or phenomenon through which the topic (cognoscente) is in front of the article.

However, from the perspective of psychology, it’s a process. That is, it takes under consideration the mental processes that occur throughout the act through which the topic comprehends the characteristics of what is thought or to be known.

Is knowledge possible?

According to the aforementioned writer, one can answer skeptically by stating that no it is feasible to really know anything or anyonethat knowledge is simply a pretense or a vain illusion. However, there are those that are convinced that it is feasible to construct certainty around the topic, which can be a position of dogmatism.

In the midpoint of those two views is the position of the so-called relativism. You cannot know the whole lot on this position.

Where does knowledge come from?

Aristotle thought so there may be nothing within the mind that didn’t exist before in experience – that’s, the topic has not experienced it. However, mirages and hallucinations show that the senses can deceive us.

Therefore, in the other view, it is claimed that reason won’t deceive us. Thus, the angle of rationalism states that true knowledge arises from or uses reason, although empiricism asserts the other.

Does knowledge occur in the topic or in the article?

From one perspective knowledge begins with an object or reality, and the topic comprehends the properties of it construct her image. But the other position is that the whole lot arises from the topic, with its ideas and consciousness.

What is the reality?

This is the important thing query and essentially the most difficult to reply in epistemology. Saying what truth is, or applying a criterion to prove that knowledge is true, is difficult.

There are those that categorically reject this possibility. Others admit that reaching reliable knowledge is feasibleso long as an objective procedure is followed, equivalent to the scientific method.

Branches, currents, schools and trends

There are various divisions, currents, trends, and schools of epistemology, depending on the approach or discipline adopted. In relation to the latter, we’ve got the epistemology of sociology, psychology, biology, chemistry, etc., regarding the research process in these sciences.

On the opposite hand, we’re also talking about legal epistemology (referring to the methods and procedures utilized by lawyers), normative epistemology, modal, evolutionary and even genetic epistemology. So claims the latter, founded by the well-known educator Jean Piaget knowledge is the product of a person’s interaction along with his environment.

There are also other approaches and schools, equivalent to postcolonial and feminist epistemology. One of essentially the most influential in the 20th century is logical neopositivism from the so-called Viennese wheel.

Major epistemologists

You could say an epistemologist is a philosopher engaged in scientific work. Thus, while men of science study reality, he observes and analyzes how theories are constructed, the reasoning used, and the methods used, and paradigms which in every epoch determine the ways of knowing.

Throughout history, many names stand out in epistemology:

• In ancient Greece The precursor was Parmenides, although Plato and Aristotle, each in his own position, laid the foundations of this discipline.
• In the Middle Ages, some scholastic philosophers stood out, equivalent to St. Augustine and St. Anselm, in addition to the Andalusian Muslim scholar Averroes.
• With the birth of contemporary science, great names also arise across the reflection on knowledge: at the moment, the so-called The English empiricists stand out: Locke, Hume and Berkeley.
• We cannot fail to say two outstanding thinkers, each of whom deals along with his own field, equivalent to Descartes and Kant.
• In the twentieth century, epistemological schools were represented by Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein.
• More recently Karl Popper charactersa critic of logical neo-positivism, and the French hermeneutics Hans-Gadamer and Paul Ricoeur.

Usefulness of epistemology

We have already explained what epistemology is all about, in relation to science or knowledge generally. However, should there be any doubt as to its value or scope, it will possibly be emphasized that this discipline is helpful for:

• To explore the connection between various fields of data.
• To enable you to understand and even resolve conflicts of interest.
• Analyze and evaluate the accuracy of the methods used.
• Distinguish what knowledge ought to be considered scientific.
• To deepen the varied vital ways of making knowledge.
• To promote the controversy about what will be considered ethical in science.
• Defining the standards for validating the reliability and scope of the findings.
• To contribute to maintaining a critical approach to the boundaries of data.
• To be properly vigilant to ideologies that influence scientific work.

Correctness today’s epistemology

Epistemology it is helpful not only for individuals who observe from the surface, but additionally for individuals who are engaged in science. A scientist is a human being and as such shouldn’t be free from situations that could possibly be contrary to the postulates.

Currently, when producing knowledge in accordance with artificial intelligence systems, an entire panorama of possible interpretations and reflections of epistemology has opened up. There are many challenges that have to be met on this regard. While we still have an extended technique to go, epistemology will at all times have something to contribute.

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