John Horner, age 15, of Sioux City, Iowa, for his question:

WHAT IS THE SCIENCE OF EPISTEMOLOGY?

Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that studies the origins, nature and limitations of knowledge. It is conveniently distinguished from logic, which is concerned with methods of treating data and with processes and operations of the mind in establishing knowledge.  Since the 17th century, epistemology has been one of the fundamental themes of philosophers who were necessarily obliged to coordinate the theory of knowledge with developing scientific thought.

A prevalent view is that knowledge arises in the functional relationship of a perceiving organism and a perceived universe within the framework of scientific method. Philosophy tries to give a person a unified view of the universe within the framework of scientific method.