Epistemology: Knowledge, Justification, and the Gettier Problem

Abstract

This article examines central debates in epistemology concerning the nature of knowledge, the justification of belief, and the limits of human understanding. It traces the traditional account of knowledge as justified true belief and explains how Gettier’s counterexamples challenged this definition. The discussion further compares major theories of justification, including foundationalism, coherentism, reliabilism, and virtue epistemology, while also addressing skepticism and contemporary responses to it. Finally, the article highlights the growing importance of social epistemology and considers how artificial intelligence may reshape future questions about knowledge and justification.