ABSTRACT
Philosophers and others have long tried to formulate an explanation of the nature, origin, and scope of knowledge. Epistemology is the philosophical project of formulating such an explanation. It has occupied philosophers at least since the time of Plato, and it continues to provide a central field of study in contemporary philosophy. If we claim to have genuine knowledge in any area of inquiry, or information gathering, we should be prepared to offer the kind of explanation of knowledge that is constitutive of epistemology.
