EPISTEMOLOGY. - Etymologically (ἐπιστήμη = science and λόγος = discourse), it means doctrine of science. In current usage, however, the meaning of the term is not yet universally fixed. By some, in a rather generic sense, epistemology is identified with logic (H. Cohen, E. Husserl, Rabier). English terminology, on the other hand, commonly identifies it with gnoseology or theory of knowledge. As regards this meaning, v. CONOSCENZA. In the strict and proper sense, which is also the most common in Italian, it designates the philosophy of science, that is, the critical study of the principles, methods and results of the sciences, with the aim of establishing their logical foundations and determining their specific value of objectivity with regard to the knowledge of reality.

As such, epistemology is divided into general (determination of the nature of science in general, classification of the sciences and general methodology), and special, which has as its object the investigation of the nature, principles and methods of the individual classes of sciences.

Epistemology can therefore be considered as a determination and application of logic to the particular field of human knowledge constituted by scientific knowledge. And it is also intimately connected with the theory of knowledge, inasmuch as it cannot disregard the general gnoseological principles concerning the value of knowledge; while at the same time it strengthens and extends their conclusions, with particular investigations into the meaning of scientific knowledge. Epistemology in the sense indicated has assumed a particular development in philosophy, mainly in recent decades, in relation to the new developments and definitive conceptions in the sciences in general, and in mathematics and physics in particular. Particular studies have been devoted to it in Italy by A. Pastore and F. Enriquez (v. SCIENZA).

Bibliography11 works

BIBL.: L. Lisco, La science positive et la métaphysique, Paris 1897; H. Poincaré, La science et l'hypothèse, ibid. 1902; A. Pastore, Sopra la teoria della scienza, Turin 1903; E. Picard, La science moderne et son état actuel, Paris 1905; H. Poincaré, Science et méthode, ibid. 1908; E. Meyerson, De l'explication dans les sciences, ibid. 1921; F. Enriquez, Problème de la science, 2nd ed., Bologna 1927; J. Maritzin, Les degrés du savoir, 3rd ed., Paris 1940, pp. 45-134; M. Giua, Storia della scienza ed. e., Turin 1945; E. Poincaré, Il valore della scienza, Italian trans., Florence 1947; F. Amerio, E., Brescia 1948.

Ugo Viglino

@incollection{ec5_epistemologia, author = {Viglino, Ugo}, title = {Epistemologia}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {V}, pages = {448--449}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/epistemologia} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

About this entry