Epistemological

Full definition of epistemological

Adjective

1. Of or pertaining to epistemology or theory of knowledge, as a field of study.
• 1898, E. A. Read, "Review of Vergleich der dogmatischen Systeme von R. A. Lipsius und A. Ritschl," The American Journal of Theology, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 190,The epistemological position of Ritschl, in our author's exposition of it, is little more than idealistic rationalism.
• 1991, Walt Wolfram, "The Linguistic Variable: Fact and Fantasy," American Speech, vol. 66, no. 1, p. 31,My conclusion dovetails with Fasold's conclusion, which is based on a quite different, more epistemological kind of argument.
2. Of or pertaining to knowing or cognizing, as a mental activity.
• 1969, Sandra B. Rosenthal, "The 'World' of C. I. Lewis," Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 590,The reality which thus emerges is the outcome of the epistemological process in which the mind conceptually structures a given content.

Usage notes

Many philosophers consider the standard sense of "epistemological" to be "of or pertaining to epistemology" and reserve the term "epistemic" for the sense "of or pertaining to knowing or cognizing."

Related terms

• epistemic
• epistemologically
• epistemology