Epistemology

[i-ˌpi-stə-ˈmä-lə-jē] part of speech: noun

• Any study relating to human thought or knowledge
• A branch of philosophy relating to the origin and nature of human knowledge

 
“The study of epistemology can help us all discover how we came to know everything we know.” 
“Epistemology is one of philosophy’s most meta pursuits—the knowledge of knowledge itself.”

I was assisted by word genius.
 
Many people name René Descartes (1596–1650), the French Catholic philosopher, as the father of modern philosophy and epistemology.

I’ll pick some ancient and medieval epistemologists I’ve read, and for the rest, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epistemologists
 
(1) Socrates, (2) Plato, (3) Aristotle, (4) Aquinas. Alexander, 9, knows the first three, and he heard me endorse the fourth.

I don’t push anything or anyone on students. I just want them to be logical and careful.

However, let me introduce you to a friend, Omphaloskepsis. He contemplates his own navel, figuratively demonstrating this to be true: “I’m guilty of omphaloskepsis when it comes to making little decisions,” he says, “but I have no problem with the big ones.”