Leximancer tutorial 2014

Ontology and Epistemology: Key difference

The two terms I always get confused! 

Thanks to Thomas Drake, I finally have a clear understanding of the two very important terms used in research.

Ontology:  The branch of metaphysics (philosophy concerning the overall nature of what things are) is concerned with identifying, in the most general terms, the kinds of things that actually exist.  In other words addressing the question: What is existence? and What is the nature of existence?  When we ask deep questions about "what is the nature of the universe?" or "Is there a god?" or "What happens to us when we die?" or "What principles govern the properties of matter?" we are asking inherently ontological questions.

Epistemology: The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of knowledge itself, its possibility, scope, and  general basis.  More broadly: How do we go about knowing things? or How do we separate true ideas from false ideas? or How do we know what is true?  or "How can we be confident when we have located 'truth'?"  "What are the systematic ways we can determine when something is good or bad?" 

So ontology is about what is true and epistemology then is about methods of figuring out those truths. 

The split between Plato and Aristotle is both ontological and epistemic.  The split between religion and science is both ontological and epistemic.  For example, religion and science offer two very different ontologies (theories about what is out there) and epistemology (ways to figure out what is out there).  And the split between Plato and Aristotle matches exactly the split between religion and science...and you should leave this class understanding why and how!  See Plato vs. Aristotle 

The above is copied from "http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/engl257/Classical/ontology_and_epistemology.htm". 

Aha!

Never thought "Aha" can be interpreted something like this...

"A familiar form of this change occurs when two interdependent individuals who are debating conflicting perceptions of a given issue suddenly, and perhaps simultaneously, generate a new understanding of that issue—this can be considered an “aha” moment. The “aha” is a nonlinear product of a combination of the original perceptions, of the discarding of untenable arguments and the fusion of what is tenable, or perhaps of the rejection of original ideas as untenable and the creation of a totally new idea. It represents a process of seeing beyond original assumptions to something not bounded by those assumptions. Moreover, it cannot be claimed by any one individual, but rather is a product of the interactions among individuals..."

Shall I Say... "Aha"