Epistemology
Epistemology studies the nature of knowledge.
Formal Definitions
- Definition #1 - Theory of knowledge. What are the origin, nature, and limits of knowledge about reality? - Bergman, et al.
- Definition #2 - Answers the questions: How do we know what is real? What is the nature of knowledge? - Varpio and MacLeod
- Definition #3 - Epistemology, one of the core branches of philosophy, is concerned with the theory of knowledge, especially in regard to its methods, validation and ‘the possible ways of gaining knowledge of social reality, whatever it is understood to be. In short, claims about how what is assumed to exist can be known’ - Grix
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- Bergman, E., Feijte, J. de, Frambach, J., Godefrooij, M., Slootweg, I., Stalmeijer, R., & Zwet, J. van der. (2012). A Guide to Research Paradigms Relevant to Medical Education. Academic Medicine.
- Varpio, L., & MacLeod, A. (2020). Philosophy of Science Series: Harnessing the Multidisciplinary Edge Effect by Exploring Paradigms, Ontologies, Epistemologies, Axiologies, and Methodologies. Academic Medicine, 95(5), 686–689. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000003142.
- Grix, J. (2002). Introducing Students to the Generic Terminology of Social Research. Politics, 22(3), 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9256.00173