Epistemology
Noun
- The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. The investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.
Example Sentences
“‘Epistemology’ is a fancy word to describe learning about learning.”
“Epistemology is one of philosophy’s most meta pursuits — the study of knowledge itself.”
“Professor Peters started each semester with a lecture on epistemology and how the class would explore different teaching methods.”
Word Origin
Greek, mid-19th century
Why this word?
In Greek, “epistēmē” means “knowledge” and the suffix “-ology” is used to describe fields of study. (In ancient Greek, it meant “discourse.”) Thus, “epistemology” translates to “a discussion about knowledge.”