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Epistemology

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Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy
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Abstract

In a general sense, epistemology aims to provide criteria for knowledge, and in a more restricted sense, an elaboration of a theory of scientific knowledge. The Medievals, under the influence of Aristotle and a brand of Platonism, defend a heightened conception of knowledge defending the infallibility of objects (due to their necessity and universality) in as much as that of discursive methods (theories of demonstration). After a refresher on this double heritage, we will examine three models of scientific reasoning developed in the Middle Ages bolstered by different procedures of guaranteeing the certainty of knowledge and its application to a contingent world.

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Grellard, C. (2020). Epistemology. In: Lagerlund, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1665-7_154

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