THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL QUESTION

You know the epistemological question, “How will you know that you have successfully achieved your outcome?” It is the 18th question in the Well-Formed Outcome questions. The words how will you know is what we call epistemology which is the study of how we know what we know. In the WFO questions, we follow up that first question with a second one: “What procedure or evidence will you use as a convincer?”

The reason why we ask about evidence or about being convinced is because these are additional facets of epistemology. That is, to know anything requires evidence or some procedure and when you have that evidence, then you will be convinced that you know what you know. And why is that important? Because with the right evidence or procedure in place, then you will know when to stop striving for your goal and savor the experience of the goal’s fulfillment.

Now on first glance the answer to the question, How will you know? seems obvious. “I’ll just know.” Okay, good. But how will you know. What convinces you that you have achieved your goal and you know that you know?