Epistemology Is Best Looked At As An Enterprise Within Natural Science

EPISTEMOLOGY IS BEST LOOKED AT AS AN ENTERPRISE WITHIN NATURAL SCIENCE
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EPISTEMOLOGY IS BEST LOOKED AT AS AN ENTERPRISE WITHIN NATURAL
Introduction
Quine is well known for his input in the realm of philosophy, especially in the sphere of natural science. The entrenchment of epistemology into natural science is attributable to American logician and philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine. Epistemology revolves around the study of knowledge. Quine boldly argues that epistemology is a subset of natural science, and it should not be delinked from the science arena. There is increased empirical scientific research across multiple facets of philosophy. One of the critical areas of interest has been ‘naturalized epistemology,’ and philosophical enthusiasts are advancing diverse arguments based on Quine’s work. Quine’s terrain of thought is remarkably consistent. He does not perceive philosophy as a separate entity from the area of empirical science. Then discourse on philosophy within science is informed by the existing history of the episodic clash of science and philosophy. Quine, Hermann von Helmholtz, Kuhn, Carnap, and Russels, just to mention a few, are among critical philosophers who have supported the idea that philosophy lies in the domain of science. This paper will illustrate why epistemology should be classified as an enterprise in the field of natural science, as opposed to a distinct, independent sphere from science.
Epistemology
Philosophers have shown great interest in how we perceive things that we know or items that we mistakenly think we know. What we know, i.e., knowledge is traceable to memory, the consciousness that reveals inner lives, reflection on abstract matters, and testimony, which defines a way of providing knowledge that, is sourced from other persons (Audi, 2010, pp. 1). Epistemology involves knowledge and is comprised of the extent of knowledge, nature, and belief. In epistemology, knowledge is examined on how it relates to beliefs, justifications, and truth. The field of epistemology also ropes in knowledge production as well as the phenomenon of skepticism on diverse claims. Epistemology raises pertinent questions on knowledge definition, the process of gaining it, what people know, structure, its adequate conditions, limits, and what justifies beliefs (Isaac, 2012,pp.29-30). Besides, epistemology tests whether a given justification for specific ideas originates from external or internal in relation to an individual’s mind. Justification is an explanation that constitutes a body of evidence or reason to believe in a particular aspect of knowledge (Audi, 2010, pp. 2). Knowledge appears to be a gist of epistemology and could be crucial to define it. Knowledge is a body of awareness and comprehension of a specific dimension of reality and is gained via a process of reason that is infused onto reality. In crux, knowledge is justified true belief. Justification is a very crucial component of knowledge as enshrined in epistemology. Justification for believing is a primary ingredient for actual justified belief, and thi...