Epistemic

Origin

From Ancient Greek epistēmikós, from ἐπιστήμη (epistēmē, "science, knowledge").

Full definition of epistemic

Adjective

1. Of or relating to knowledge or cognition; cognitive.
• 1981, Martin Warner, “Review of Metaphor and Thought by Andrew Ortony”, The Modern Language Review, vol. 76, no. 2, p. 428,Metaphors provide epistemic access to the world via the articulation of new ideas at a stage when literal language cannot cope.Second, note the role of the respondent's epistemic state. It is a factor in determining the correct replies, but only when the propositum is irrelevant.
2. (rare) Of or relating to theory of knowledge (epistemology).
• 2000, Timm Triplett, “Review of The Philosophy of Roderick M. Chisholm”, The Philosophical Review, vol. 109, no. 3, p. 452,Audi considers whether Chisholm might be able to incorporate into his epistemic system an internalist evidential grounding requirement.

Usage notes

Philosophers usually differentiate the meanings of “epistemic” and “epistemological”. They generally use “epistemic” in the sense “of or relating to knowledge or cognition” and use “epistemological” in the sense “of or relating to epistemology”. needed

Derived terms

• epistemic logic
• epistemically

Related terms

• epistemological