ABSTRACT
Our brief summary of the general epistemology of science, then, posits three mental frameworks that are based on one another: (1) the most general framework or worldview; (2) within the worldview another mental framework supporting all our epistemological activities, called "knowledge structure"; (3) the general scientific conceptual scheme; and (4) the specific scientific conceptual scheme. Among these, worldview is the perspective from where we view science - so to speak, the knowledge structure determines our attitude towards science and as such it makes up the framework which is utilized in our perspective to carry out scientific activities. The rest of the schemes are also frameworks which primarily determine our understanding of science and how to carry out scientific activity. Epistemology resembles anatomy in that if there is one human anatomy then there is only one human epistemology. Hence, it cannot change from society to society. On the other hand, just like the fact that the anatomy of the human digestion system, for example, is universal, but the human culinary art exhibits a variety of forms, our epistemology of science is also universal but with varying forms of traditions in different societies. This compels us to apply our epistemology to different scientific traditions. Our essay is concerned with its application to the Islamic scientific tradition.
