Define Naturalized Epistemology.

Naturalized epistemology is an approach to the study of knowledge that seeks to integrate the investigation of epistemic questions with empirical methods from the natural sciences. Originating in the works of American philosopher W.V. Quine and further developed by others like Hilary Kornblith, naturalized epistemology rejects the traditional divide between philosophy and science in understanding knowledge.

In this perspective, epistemological questions are addressed using the tools of psychology, cognitive science, and other empirical disciplines. The focus is on understanding how knowledge is acquired, justified, and revised in light of empirical evidence about human cognition and the natural world.

Naturalized epistemologists argue that the study of knowledge should be grounded in the actual processes and mechanisms involved in cognitive activities rather than relying solely on a priori or armchair philosophical analysis. By engaging with empirical research, naturalized epistemology seeks to provide a more scientifically informed account of how humans come to know and understand the world, challenging traditional philosophical methods and assumptions in epistemology.