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Epistemology:
How we know what we know — truth, belief, and justified ideas.
Story mode.
Eight key ideas and takeaways.
1. Our first story.
Subject: Skepticism.
- Socrates.
- 399 BCE.
Epistemology < Philosophy
Simply put.
The essence of the phrase “I know that I know nothing” originates from Plato’s Apology, where Socrates reflects on his reputation for wisdom. While not a direct quote, Plato attributes to Socrates the idea that true wisdom comes from recognizing one’s own ignorance. Socrates argues that he is wiser than those who falsely believe they possess knowledge, a lesson that has since become central to philosophical discussions on knowledge and humility.
That Epistemology Quote,
was first published on TST 1 year ago.
2. Now for our second story.
Subject: Epistemology.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
- 1922.
Wittgenstein argued that language sets the boundaries of understanding. What we cannot express in words may still be experienced.
What matters here is this.
Linguistic skepticism is the idea that language cannot fully represent what we experience. In contrast, epistemological skepticism is the broader notion that humans can never fully understand reality, whether due to cognitive limitations, the existence of other realms, or other fundamental constraints.
That Epistemology Quote,
was first published on TST 2 years ago.
Finally, 4 frequently asked “questions.”
3. Tidbit number three, a quote.
Subject: Theory of Truth.
Agrippa’s Trilemma does not break the Idea of Ideas. It helps show why we need a clear split between reality itself and our human ideas about it.
Stepping back for a moment.
Agrippa argued that no belief can be finally justified. Every claim eventually runs into one of three traps: an infinite chain of reasons, a circular argument, or an unsupported assumption. Philosophers have wrestled with this for over two thousand years, and it still holds up, if, and only if, you’re talking about justification.
That Epistemology FAQ,
was first published on TST 1 month ago.
4. Tidbit number four, another quote.
Subject: Personal Belief.
Confidence in ideas increases with alignment with reality — aligning with Popper, probability thinking, and intellectual humility.
Seen another way.
Belief is not all-or-nothing. Rational minds assign degrees of confidence based on available evidence. Absolute certainty is not possible for finite thinkers. Sanity lies in calibration — increasing confidence as alignment strengthens, decreasing it when evidence weakens.
That Epistemology Essay,
was first published on TST 4 weeks ago.
5. Now it is time a question.
Subject: Epistemology.
Words are empirical when they directly describe the material world, and rational when they help structure, organize, relate, or evaluate ideas.
To clarify.
In TST, words are classified by function, not spelling. Cat is empirical when it names a real animal. Root is empirical in a tree, but rational in math. Even empirical sentences use rational words for structure. The key question is simple: what is the word doing?
That Epistemology FAQ,
was first published on TST 4 days ago.
6. Tidbit FAQ number six.
Subject: TST Ethics.
TST Ethics differs by aiming at layered flourishing rather than happiness alone. Moral constraint integrate intent, virtue, preservation, and harm.
Seen another way.
Utilitarianism focuses primarily on maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering. TST Ethics goes further. While harm matters, it is not the only metric. Intent, virtue, preservation of life, and structural stability also carry weight. Moral decisions are not solved by a single calculation but require layered evaluation and responsible adjustment over time.
That Epistemology FAQ,
was first published on TST 2 months ago.
“Done.”
Each tidbit carries its own links and academic citations, allowing claims to be traced back to their original sources without overloading longer essays.
Each weekly edition of the TST Weekly Column consists of a central column supported by a research layer of stories, quotes, timelines, and FAQs.
Refresh for another set.
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(c) 2025-2026 TouchstoneTruth.
Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
(c) 2025-2026 TouchstoneTruth.
Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.
