The Pre-Requisites of Epistemology

Epistemology is based on the premise that man can acquire knowledge only if he performs certain definite processes. This premise means that a man cannot accept ideas at random and count them as knowledge merely because he feels like it. Why not?¹

The answer is in two parts, first knowledge is knowledge of reality, so epistemology depends on the primacy of existence. Second, human consciousness in particular can err because man is a conceptual being, so man in particular needs to validate his conclusions.

If mans mind was the standard of reality his conclusions would be automatically valid, and he would need no epistemology; if mans mind was automatic he would have no ability to use any method of validation; if mans mind was infallible he would have no need for a method of ensuring that he has not strayed into error—epistemology depends both on the primacy of existence and the fallibility of a conceptual consciousness.