Philosophy of Being and Knowledge

Epistemology (Philosophy of Knowledge)

Names and Key Problems of Epistemology

The principal human activity in relation to the world is cognition. Humans are continually engaged in the process of knowing, and the subject of this knowledge can be virtually anything. Cognition enables human survival in the world, the formation of values, the differentiation between good and evil, the exploration of eternal religious questions, and more. Given the critical role of knowledge in human life, it is one of the primary concerns of philosophical analysis. Cognition is the focus of a distinct philosophical discipline that has been known by various names throughout the history of philosophy.

• The most common name for the philosophical discipline studying knowledge is epistemology. This term derives from the Greek word "ἐπιστήμη" (epistēmē), meaning knowledge or understanding. It signifies that epistemology is the science of knowledge and understanding. The term "epistemology" is the most prevalent designation for this philosophical discipline in European languages. It is used in English (epistemology), French (épistémologie), and other languages. When European philosophy, influenced by the rise of positivism, began to regard science as the epitome of reliable knowledge, philosophers focused on the nature of science. At that time, "epistemology" came to refer to the theory of science. However, today, as the excessive enthusiasm for science has waned, epistemology is no longer confined to the theory of science, as most philosophers recognize that science is not the only method of knowledge.
• In post-Soviet countries, the philosophical discipline studying knowledge is sometimes referred to as gnoseology. This term derives from the Greek "γνώσις" (gnōsis), meaning knowledge. It was adopted by German-speaking philosophers in the 18th century and later by some Soviet philosophers in the 20th century. Outside the post-Soviet space, the term "gnoseology" is not used. Occasionally, a distinction has been made in domestic philosophy between epistemology (the science of knowledge) and gnoseology (the science of knowledge). However, such a distinction has not gained traction, as knowledge is inseparable from cognition as the process of acquiring knowledge; thus, this differentiation is artificial and has not found support in the philosophical community.
• A third term used to denote epistemology is the theory of knowledge. This term is most popular in German, where the names of academic disciplines and textbooks on epistemology typically use "Erkenntnistheorie" (theory of knowledge). It has also found a place in the Ukrainian language, as its meaning is understood even without detailed etymological explanations, and it does not provoke controversy.

The task of epistemology is to seek answers to questions such as:

• What is the source of knowledge? In attempting to answer this question, philosophical tradition has developed several theories: rationalism— the belief that reason is the source of knowledge; empiricism— the theory that experience is the source of knowledge; Kantianism— the theory proposed by Immanuel Kant, which holds that the source of knowledge is the interplay between reason and experience; skepticism— the belief that knowledge is ultimately impossible, and what seems to be knowledge is merely an illusion.
• What goals does cognition aim to achieve? Everything a person does has a purpose. No one undertakes any activity without setting a goal that can be achieved through that activity. If cognition is the primary human activity, it must have its goal. The goal of cognition is to acquire knowledge; therefore, the study of the phenomenon of knowledge is also a task of epistemology. Knowledge can only be true judgment. No false statement qualifies as knowledge. Thus, an integral aspect of analyzing the problem of knowledge is the concept of truth, its definition, and criteria for its determination.