epistémica

Epistémica is the feminine form of the Spanish adjective epistémico and is used in philosophy and linguistics to refer to matters related to knowledge, belief, and justification. In broad terms, it denotes epistemic aspects—the ways propositions can be known, supported, or rated as credible.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Greek epistēmē, meaning knowledge, and is adapted into Romance languages with the -ica suffix to form epistémica. In philosophy, epistémica is linked to epistemology, the study of knowledge, justification, truth, and belief.

In philosophy, epistémica concerns criteria for when beliefs count as knowledge, the sources and structure of justification, and how agents respond to uncertainty or skepticism. It also covers epistemic norms—principles that guide inquiry and assess rational belief—as well as epistemic virtues, such as intellectual honesty and open-mindedness.

In linguistics and semantics, epistémica describes epistemic modality: the expression of a speaker’s degree of certainty about a proposition. Epistemic modals (such as may, might, must, or probably) encode this stance, distinguishing them from deontic modals that express permission or obligation. The notion also helps analyze how languages encode uncertainty, evidence, and belief.

See also: epistemology, epistemic modality, epistemic justification, skepticism, and epistemic virtue.