“How do we know what we know?”
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that asks how we know what we know. It explores things like belief, truth, doubt, and evidence, and is exactly what we are going to be taking a look at in today’s blog.
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When we read an article online, how do we decide, or even know, whether it’s true? In a world where social media channels are creating more content than ever before, this is a question we need to ask ourselves more often. The impact it has on what we believe, and what we perceive as “truth”, is far greater than we might realise.
This is where epistemology comes in.
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that explores knowledge itself: what it is, how we gain it, and how we can tell if something we believe is actually true. At its heart, it asks questions like: “How do we know what we know?” and “What counts as good evidence?”. Far from being just an academic topic, epistemology shapes the way we navigate everyday life, from trusting news articles to forming opinions about the world around us.
We practice epistemology every day, often without even realising it. When we decide whether to trust a news article, believe a friend’s story, or question a memory from years ago, we’re engaging with questions about knowledge, truth, and belief. Do we trust our senses? Do we rely on those who are seen as ‘experts’? Do we follow our gut instincts? Every time we weigh up what to believe or not to believe, we’re stepping into the world of epistemology.
At the end of the day, it’s up to each one of us to identify what we see as true or otherwise in the world. I can suggest arguments as to why you should see something in a particular light; the choice is then up to you about whether you believe it or not. This choice is impacted by numerous factors, including your upbringing, education, life experience and a whole load more.
How do we know if something is true?
Sometimes it’s through our senses: we see it, hear it, or feel it for ourselves. Other times, it’s through memory, relying on what we’ve learned or experienced in the past. We also use reasoning, piecing ideas together to reach conclusions. And often, we trust social proof (commonly referred to as testimony), what other people tell us. Each of these has its strengths, but also its limits, which makes questioning and reflection so important.
Epistemology isn’t being scared about learning new things and whether they are reliable or not; it’s more about keeping an open mind about the information that we are absorbing on a daily basis. It’s a tool that helps us grow, stay grounded, and make better choices in a complicated world.
How do we know what we know? Well, we may never have all of the answers, but switching our mindset to one of continuous learning and growing is a great place to start in my opinion.
That’s all for today’s blog, what do you think? Had you heard of epistemology before? Would you like to see more blogs like this on the page moving forward?
I’d love to hear your thoughts ⤵️
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a lovely day!
James
Sweeney's Blogs 