Episteme
conceptTrue knowledge based on demonstration and understanding of causes — as opposed to mere opinion.
The Myth
For Aristotle, episteme was knowledge that could be demonstrated through syllogistic reasoning from first principles. It was certain, universal, and necessary — unlike doxa (opinion) or techne (craft knowledge). Plato placed episteme at the top of his divided line, accessible only through dialectical reasoning about the Forms. Foucault later repurposed the term to mean the underlying framework of assumptions that defines what counts as knowledge in a given era.
Symbols
Fun Fact
Foucault's use of "episteme" in The Order of Things became one of the most influential concepts in 20th-century humanities — ironic, given that Aristotle would barely recognise his usage.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
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