Epistemists

Epistemists are individuals who adopt the philosophical stance known as epistemism, the view that knowledge is possible or that certain forms of knowledge are attainable. Epistemism contrasts with other epistemological positions such as skepticism, which doubts or denies the possibility of knowledge, and relativism, which asserts that truth or knowledge is relative to cultural or conceptual frameworks. While epistemism is an overarching stance rather than a distinct school, the term "epistemist" is commonly used to denote philosophers who defend the certainty or justifiability of certain beliefs.

The roots of epistemism can be traced back to the early modern period, particularly in the work of René Descartes and John Locke, who argued that the mind can gain reliable knowledge through clear and distinct ideas or through sensory experience. In the 19th and 20th centuries, philosophical movements such as rationalism and empiricism further elaborated epistemist arguments. Contemporary epistemists often engage with problems of justification, coherence, foundationalism, and the Gettier problems, seeking solutions that secure knowledge beyond mere true belief with appropriate justification.

Key arguments used by epistemists include foundationalism, which posits basic beliefs that do not require justification from other beliefs, and coherentism, which holds that a belief is justified by its coherence with a system of beliefs. Naturalized epistemology, championed by philosophers such as W. V. Quine, also provides a scientific framework for understanding knowledge acquisition. Critiques of epistemism typically come from skeptics who challenge the possibility of infallible knowledge, or from logical positivists who question the meaningfulness of some epistemic claims. Despite such criticisms, epistemism remains a central perspective in contemporary epistemology, serving as the default position for most philosophers engaged with the nature and limits of human knowledge.