What is Epistemology?
Epistemology is the discipline and study entailing the determination of what knowledge is, how knowledge comes about, and determining foundational truths necessary and able to demonstrate something to be true ―or to demonstrate the lack of such foundational truths.
What is Epistemology Like?
The nature of epistemology is such that it determines what is ultimate truth, and therefore can become knowledge (one cannot have knowledge of something that does not exist). It grapples with truth in the sense of examining NOT the truth claim or truth itself, but the process along which one travels to arrive at the conclusion that this or that is true or most reasonable. It does not focus on the what one believes, but rather the foundational why or how of one’s belief. For example, logic, perception, experience, tradition, and written and verbal witness all may be among what was drawn upon to arrive at one’s conclusion. One or the other of these may or may not be as weighty as another in one’s mind or reasoning, but all are relevant.One foundational hinge for epistemology is the fact that nothing can be proven by using itself as proof. So, epistemology seeks accepted foundational truths which are, or can be, used to prove other things.1 This is necessary because the mere statement of a truth does not make it true. It may be true, but one must look beyond the statement itself to determine its truth. I cannot prove that I typed this simply by stating it. However, given that one could perceive me typing it if they looked in the room, or that one could find this work on my computer dated and timed at the time I claimed, or find congruence in style with other papers I have typed, one could find adequate reason to believe that my statement is, in fact, true.
What Does it Matter?
In general, epistemology is only as important as truth is important. However, truth is very important. The ability to discern and discover truth and thereby potential knowledge is of vast importance. The better we become at the process of discovering truth, the better we will become at guiding others to that truth and in their own pursuits of additional truth. This will both increase truth and reality, and decrease lies and deception to the betterment of all. Yet, to leave God “out of the equation” is to depend far too much on the capacity of the human spirit and will.Epistemology is significant in Christian theology in a number of ways. We are dealing with the truth, God’s truth, and are commissioned and commanded to take that truth to every creature. However, with the mind of man at enmity against God, it will have sensual, illogical, and prejudicial hindrances. Also, God deserves His place of exultation among the world, so we should have a reasonable, unswerving foundation for the Faith to offer reasonable people. We also should be able to guide others through their pathway of discovery in hopes that, by the Spirit’s mercy and the revelation of the Father, they recognize the errors in their foundational sources, repent, and place their trust in God, who is truth.
Faith is not the basis of Christianity, but the exercise of abiding trust and corresponding life based upon the factual, historical revelation of God in and to this world.2 His revelation is the basis of Christianity, not the faith which, as it were, activates Christianity. In our concern for God and the world we must realize that we cannot merely educate the beastliness out of the beast. All the truthful information, correct logic, and ample evidence in the world will do nothing apart from a work of God. In our pursuit of truth, we must remember to not put our trust ultimately in the power of reason, but the power and love of God. Only a work of God can make one a new creature with new desires and a transformed mind.
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1 William Hasker, Metaphysics: Constructing a Worldview (Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press,1983), 18.
2 Steven Tsoukalas, “Towards a Foundational Epistemology”
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