Outline of epistemology
overview of and topical guide to epistemology
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to epistemology:
Epistemology (a.k.a. theory of knowledge) – branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge. The term was introduced into English by the Scottish philosopher James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864). Epistemology asks questions such as: "What is knowledge?", "How is knowledge acquired?", and "What do people know?"
Core topics of epistemology
Knowledge (outline)
Sources of knowledge (Pramana in Sanskrit)
Perception
Memory
Introspection
Inference
Testimony
Types of knowledge
Descriptive knowledge – "Knowledge that"
Procedural knowledge – "Knowledge how"
Knowledge by acquaintance
A priori and a posteriori
Analytic–synthetic distinction
Gettier problem
Justification
Regress argument
Münchhausen trilemma
Theories of justification
Foundationalism – Basic beliefs justify other, non-basic beliefs.
Coherentism – Beliefs are justified if they cohere with other beliefs a person holds, each belief is justified if it coheres with the overall system of beliefs.
Infinitism – Beliefs are justified by infinite chains of reasons.
Foundherentism – Both fallible foundations and coherence are components of justification—proposed by Susan Haack.
Internalism and externalism – The believer must be able to justify a belief through internal knowledge (internalism), or outside sources of knowledge can be used to justify a belief (externalism).
Innatism – The mind is born with knowledge.
Reformed epistemology – Beliefs are warranted by proper cognitive function—proposed by Alvin Plantinga.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Outline of epistemology” as overview of and topical guide to epistemology. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as overview of and topical guide to epistemology. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 24, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q7112624. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1808 and 1864.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Outline of epistemology”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Outline of epistemology primary sources, Outline of epistemology archive and Outline research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Outline of epistemology”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Outline of epistemology” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.