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An Overview of Epistemology

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The act of knowledge seems a very simple thing; it is, however, a rather mysterious and profound experience. Which is why, different inductive and deductive science were founded for the purpose of attaining the absolute truth that human mind always seek.

Because of this, Philosophy had sprouted and branched out to another department known as Epistemology to help people understand the truth-value of things and arrive even up to the objective truth of anything.

Epistemology. It is the science of the validity, or truth-value of human knowledge. In most cases epistemology is also called 'applied logic,' 'material logic,' 'critical logic,' or 'noetics' because it also delves into the depths of logical thinking and follows a system set to attain objective truth rather than subjective.

Facts and Knowledge. To the ordinary man his knowledge is without question valid. This refers as well to intellectual knowledge as to sense-knowledge. Of course, no one would ever question what one could see, hear, smell, taste and touch. However, sense-perception has been proven to be deceiving in most cases because things are not really they way you can see them. Moreover, sense-perception is considered subjective; most of things that one knows through his senses may not be the same as the other knows them. Therefore, objective truth is not attained.

Spontaneous Convictions. Man has the spontaneous conviction that the world is objectively real and that his knowledge of it is true. He possesses many convictions of this sort regarding physical, intellectual, and moral matters. The convictions are natural, and as such they have a strong presumptive value. The philosopher, however, feels the necessity of inquiring into the ultimate rational grounds of these spontaneous convictions.

The Problem of Knowledge. The natural urge for knowledge accounts for the progress of the sciences. Science has disproved many spontaneous convictions of the past, for instance, the conviction that the sun moves around the earth. The truths of science depend on the validity of sense-perception and of intellectual concepts. Hence, it is necessary to establish the validity of knowledge.

It is the right of everyone to know if what they know is true or not. Therefore, one should have the right to study things as they are even in their simple, day-to-day living. Epistemology could be the special kind of science which greatly helps you find the truth-value of anything you know. Take time to ponder!