The terms epistemology and metaphysics are both related to philosophical concepts, and without epistemology, the study of metaphysics would never get the weight or authority.
These terms are used interchangeably, which is not right. The term epistemology and metaphysics represents two different concepts.
To understand the difference between these two terms, one must first understand the core concepts of these two terms.
Key Takeaways
- Epistemology is concerned with the nature of knowledge and how it is acquired, while metaphysics is concerned with the nature of reality and existence.
- Epistemology focuses on questions related to knowledge, belief, and truth, while metaphysics deals with the nature of reality and the universe.
- Epistemology seeks to understand how knowledge is justified and can be distinguished from opinion, while metaphysics explores the fundamental nature of reality.
Epistemology vs Metaphysics
The difference between epistemology and metaphysics is that epistemology is concerned with the knowledge of humans. On the other hand, metaphysics is concerned with the process of knowing what humans know. Epistemology always avoids a ‘self-conscious turn’ in which metaphysics always includes, for instance, processes and powers of the intellect.
Epistemology refers to the study of knowledge, which focuses on what humans know. The term ‘epistemology is derived from two Greek words- “episteme’ and “logos”, which means ‘knowledge’ and ‘science’ or ‘study’ respectively.
Epistemologists focus on propositional knowledge instead of focusing on acquaintance or procedural knowledge. Propositional knowledge is knowledge that is declarative or represents a state of affairs or a fact.
Metaphysics is the study of the process of acquiring knowledge that humans know. The term ‘metaphysics’ is derived from the Greek word “metaphysika”, which literally means “after physics”.
This branch of philosophy includes the study of reality and truth. It focuses on how humans know what they know and if there are any obstacles to the process of gathering knowledge in terms of methods, validity, and scope.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Epistemology | Metaphysics |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Epistemology refers to the study of what humans know. The epistemologists focus on propositional knowledge. | Metaphysics is the study of the process of acquiring knowledge that humans know. |
| Derived from | The term ‘epistemology is derived from two Greek words- “episteme’ and “logos” which means ‘knowledge’ and ‘science’ or ‘study’ respectively. | The term ‘metaphysics’ is derived from the Greek word “metaphysika” which literally means “after physics”. |
| Branches | The main branches of epistemology are agnotology, formal epistemology, alethiology, social epistemology, and meta-epistemology. | The main branches of metaphysics are theology, ontology, and universal science. |
| Conservative thought | An individual or man is able to discern reality and truth through his capacity and tendency to reason. | Man or individual is good. |
| Examples | Belief, truth, proof, theory, hypothesis, justification, and law. | Being, existence, causality, relation, purpose, space, time, event, and so on. |
What is Epistemology?
Epistemology refers to the philosophical concept that studies human knowledge’s origin, limits, and nature.
The term ‘epistemology is derived from two Greek words- “episteme’ and “logos”, which mean ‘knowledge’ and ‘science’ or ‘study’ respectively.
Almost every known historical philosopher has contributed to the study of epistemology, questioning what we know.
Among the Greek philosophers, Plato, in his Republic, has distinguished between an inquiry about what exists and an inquiry regarding what we know.
During the early modern period, epistemologists were divided into rationalists (Baruch Spinoza, Rene Descartes) and empiricists (John Locke, George Berkeley, Francis Bacon, and David Hume).
The rationalists believed that a significant portion of knowledge comes from our faculty of reason, on the other hand, empiricists believed that knowledge derives from sensory experience.
Science is considered a formalized, institutionalized, refined, and systematic form of acquiring and pursuing empirical knowledge.
The philosophy of science may be considered a foundation of epistemological inquiry or an application of epistemology principles.
The main branches of epistemology are agnotology (focuses on doubt or ignorance), formal epistemology (focuses on computability theory and probability theory), alethiology (focuses on the nature of truth),
social epistemology (focuses on the social dimensions of human knowledge), and meta-epistemology (focuses on the subject, matter, and approaches of structuring and understanding our knowledge).
What is Metaphysics?
Metaphysics is a philosophical concept that studies the first principles of change and identity, being, possibility and necessity, causality, time and space.
Metaphysics includes the relationships between matter and mind and the nature of consciousness. The term ‘metaphysics’ is derived from the Greek word “metaphysika”, which literally means “after physics”.
The work of Aristotle in the treatise is known as metaphysics. Metaphysics focuses on investing objects and their time and space, effect and cause, possibility, properties, and existence.
Along with ethics, logic, and epistemology, metaphysics is considered one of the major branches of philosophy. Metaphysics focuses on investigating the nature and types of existence.
Metaphysics is conducted by using deduction that tries to give a coherent explanation of the world’s structure, like foundational mathematics.
Metaphysics defines properties, objects, and concepts in different ways by fundamental science, like superstrings and atoms.
The main branches of metaphysics are theology, ontology, and universal science.
In theology, the main focus is to identify the nature of God, with triple aspects of God’s teachings, what God teaches us, and what leads to God.
Ontology focuses on categories and concepts which are directly related to being, reality. Universal Science is the study that focuses on the first principles of logic and reasoning.
Main Differences Between Epistemology and Metaphysics
- Epistemology refers to the study of what humans know. Epistemologists focus on propositional knowledge. On the other hand, metaphysics is the study of the process of acquiring knowledge that humans know.
- The term ‘epistemology is derived from two Greek words- “episteme’ and “logos”, which mean ‘knowledge’ and ‘science’ or ‘study’ respectively. The term ‘metaphysics’ is derived from the Greek word “metaphysika” which literally means “after physics”.
- The main branches of epistemology are agnotology, formal epistemology, alethiology, social epistemology, and meta-epistemology. The main branches of metaphysics are theology, ontology, and universal science.
- In epistemology, an individual or man is able to discern reality and truth through his capacity and tendency to reason. In metaphysics, man or individual is good.
- Epistemology focuses on belief, truth, proof, theory, hypothesis, justification, and law. Metaphysics focuses on being, existence, causality, relation, purpose, space, time, event, and so on.
- https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=epistemology+&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DSQOQ4fXFf8MJ
- https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=metaphysics+&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3D_SfCSCQEVAYJ
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
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I think there are still some nuances to clarify in this article, It is more a summary of the topic
The article is well composed and provides a clear explanation of the two terms. I appreciate the nuances between epistemology and metaphysics.
A very educational approach to the comparison of both terms, the work of Aristotle is not to be underestimated in this context.