Épistémique

Épistémique is a French adjective used chiefly in philosophy and linguistics to refer to epistemology and related matters. Derived from épistémologie (the theory of knowledge), it describes things that pertain to knowledge, justification, certainty, and the status of beliefs. In general, a claim or process is called epistemic when its content or assessment depends on what is known, what can be evidenced, or what counts as justification.

In philosophy, épistémique concerns the nature of knowledge, the conditions under which beliefs count as knowledge, and the norms governing evidence and justification. The term is used to contrast epistemic questions with ontological or metaphysical ones; for example, epistemic justification seeks reasons for belief rather than the truth conditions of the external world.

In linguistics and cognitive science, épistémique often refers to epistemic modality, i.e., linguistic expressions that convey the speaker's evidence-based assessment of possibility, necessity, or probability. French terms such as peut-être, probablement, il doit être parti exemplify epistemic modality; English examples include must, may, might when used to indicate knowledge or evidence rather than obligation.

In contemporary usage, épistémique appears in discussions of epistemic authority, epistemic virtue, and the assessment of knowledge in science and everyday reasoning. The term is part of the broader taxonomy that distinguishes epistemic, deontic (duty-related), and other modalities in language, logic, and philosophy.