7/17/2019 Epistimology

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HUMA310

Introduction to Philosophy

Summary for Reading 8

 Nikka Lei Kikuchi BSBA-Financial Management

Reading 8: What is Epistemology?

Epistemology is also known as the ‘theories of knowledge”. It is the branch of philosophy that is

concerned with the possibility and extent of human knowledge. It’s theories seeks to discover the

nature, origin and the limits of human knowledge. It was said that since the beginning

civilization, early philosophers has been concerned to some degree with epistemology and todifferentiate the truth from beliefs. Epistemology aims to provide a foundation for what we

consider to be true knowledge.

According to Plato and Aristotle, knowledge is possible but to other philosophers, it is

impossible. For Plato, epistemology is illustrated by his theory of forms. For Aristotle, true

knowledge can be attained by the examination of cause and effect, combined with the application

of reason and logic. For other philosophers, knowledge is only considered belief at best.

There are two ways to acquire knowledge, rationalism and empiricism. Rationalism is one’s

rational principles of independent experience which exist in the mind and empiricism is the “veilof perception” or anything based on it’s representation. Many rely on rationalism because as

human being, we believe on what we feel and on what we think is right. Some believes on

empiricism because they are blinded by it’s representation or how it was showed to them and

 believes that is it, what it is.

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