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Epistemology - 5 dictionary results

e⋅pis⋅te⋅mol⋅o⋅gy

[i-pis-tuh-mol-uh-jee]
–noun
a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge.

Origin:
1855–60; < Gk epistm(ē) knowledge + -o- + -logy


e⋅pis⋅te⋅mo⋅log⋅i⋅cal [i-pis-tuh-muh-loj-i-kuhl] , adjective
e⋅pis⋅te⋅mo⋅log⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
e⋅pis⋅te⋅mol⋅o⋅gist, noun
e·pis·te·mol·o·gy   (ĭ-pĭs'tə-mŏl'ə-jē)   
n.  The branch of philosophy that studies 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.

Epistemology

E*pis`te*mol"o*gy\, n. [Gr. ? knowledge + -logy.] The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.

epistemology [(i-pis-tuh-mol-uh-jee)]

The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and origin of knowledge. Epistemology asks the question “How do we know what we know?”


epistemology 
"theory of knowledge," 1856, coined by Scot. philosopher James F. Ferrier (1808-64) from Gk. episteme "knowledge," from Ionic Gk. epistasthai "know how to do, understand," lit. "overstand," from epi- "over, near" + histasthai "to stand." The scientific (as opposed to philosophical) study of the roots and paths of knowledge is epistemics (1969).
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