episteme

[ ep-uh-stee-mee ]

noun

1. Philosophy. (in the works of 20th-century philosopher Foucault) the set of ideas and assumptions, often unconscious, that underlie and constrain what is accepted as knowledge in a particular period:

   Technology or social revolution creates a new episteme that then shapes the nature of scientific and social enterprise.

2. any organized or scientific system of knowledge based on a set of explicit principles; paradigm:

   The project explores the formation and operation of the episteme of patent law as currently practiced by lawyers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of episteme¹

First recorded in 1840–45; from Greek epistḗmē “knowledge”

Example Sentences

This is part of a much larger closed episteme and alternate reality that includes right-wing churches, the internet and social media, and neighborhoods, communities and friendship networks, which in total function as political silos.

From Salon

These results are much more than the result of partisanship or polarization or how Republican and other right-wing voters exist in an echo chamber and closed episteme of disinformation and misinformation.

From Salon

One of the Republican Party's most effective weapons in its campaign to end America's multiracial pluralistic democracy is a media propaganda machine that functions as a closed episteme and echo chamber.

From Salon

They have successfully captured their public and created for them an entire alternate reality — a closed episteme — consisting of not just the party but a right-wing hate media echo chamber.

From Salon

Trump World is a closed episteme, whose logic is self-sustaining and self-justifying.

From Salon