epistemic
Concerning justified belief
Epistemic relates to knowledge—how we know things, what counts as knowing, and the limits of what can be known.
The term belongs primarily to philosophy: epistemic uncertainty, epistemic humility, epistemic closure.
It has spread into broader intellectual discourse, often describing the foundations of belief: an epistemic crisis in journalism, epistemic bubbles on social media.
Understood facts and skills
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
insight · wisdom · learning · erudition · scholarship · expertise · proficiency · acumen
Reason proving rightness
- warrantFormal authorization document
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- proofDemonstration of truth
- groundsBasis for justification
basis · rationale · reasoning · validation · verification · corroboration · substantiation · confirmation
Trust held as true
- certaintyTotal absence of doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- convictionFirmly held belief
- faithTrust without proof
assumption · credence · confidence · assurance · uncertainty · skepticism · agnosticism · dogma
Request for information
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
research · reasoning · inference · deduction · induction · abduction · hypothesis · conjecture
State of being achievable
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- plausibilitySeeming likely true
contingency · modal · counterfactual · conditional · Bayesian · credence · uncertainty · risk
Accordance with reality
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- assertionConfident statement of fact
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
- statementExpressed claim or fact
verity · falsity · accuracy · correctness · veracity · correspondence · coherence · pragmatic
Study of existence's nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
constructivism · positivism · pragmatism · idealism · realism · phenomenology · hermeneutics · naturalism
knowledge
Understood facts and skills
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
comprehension · insight · wisdom · learning · erudition · scholarship · expertise · proficiency · acumen · enlightenment
justification
Reason proving rightness
grounds · basis · rationale · reasoning · validation · verification · corroboration · substantiation · confirmation · support
belief
Trust held as true
- certaintyTotal absence of doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- convictionFirmly held belief
faith · assumption · credence · confidence · assurance · uncertainty · skepticism · agnosticism · dogma · creed
inquiry
Request for information
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
scrutiny · research · reasoning · inference · deduction · induction · abduction · hypothesis · conjecture · speculation
possibility
State of being achievable
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
plausibility · contingency · modal · counterfactual · conditional · Bayesian · credence · uncertainty · risk · expected value
truth
Accordance with reality
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- assertionConfident statement of fact
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
statement · verity · falsity · accuracy · correctness · veracity · correspondence · coherence · pragmatic · objectivity
ontology
Study of existence's nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
skepticism · constructivism · positivism · pragmatism · idealism · realism · phenomenology · hermeneutics · naturalism · Cartesian
epistemicontological
Concerning existence's nature
metaphysical · existential · phenomenological · phenomenal · cosmological
epistemicethical
Conforming to moral principles
moral · normative · evaluative · prescriptive · prudential
- epistemic humilityAwareness of one's ignorance
- epistemic violenceHarm through knowledge suppression