Difference between traditional and contemporary epistemology

Difference between Traditional epistemology and Contemporary epistemology Epistemology is a branch of philosophy which deals with the source, means and limit of the knowledge. The prime concern of epistemology is found in Plato’s dialogue Theateatus, where Plato exposited a definition of knowledge. That justified true belief is knowledge, is not a definition on which Plato had faith, justified by sufficient reasons. From Platonic dialogue to present day philosophical concern, still this area begs unending debate to answer this classic question. But there is a paradigm shift, explicitly diversified philosophical endeavor to find a satisfactory answer to several questions like what knowledge is, how we can know something or about justification of knowledge etc. So a traditional epistemology stemmed from skeptic challenge in Greek age, turned to be analytic and psychoanalytic one in modern age. Philosophers from Vienna circles and analytic philosophers extended area of epistemology and methods to justify knowledge. Traditional epistemology is defined as an epistemic enterprise concerned with the object we know, which was initiated by Plato and continued till the age of Descartes. In fact, Cartesian skepticism was vigorous attempt to justify knowledge in traditional school. Contemporary epistemology is defined as an epistemic enterprise concerned with the subject, who knows and his ability to know. There is a clear difference between traditional epistemology and contemporary epistemology. I would like to place several points where both of those schools of thoughts differ in their concerns and methodology. Focal point: The focal point of traditional epistemology is object or the thing that we can know while focal point of contemporary epistemology is subject his ability know something. Founder: The founder of traditional knowledge is Plato. Plato initiated the classic question about the source of knowledge and justification of knowledge. Contemporary epistemology is initiated by Vienna circle and analytic philosophers. Paradigms: Traditional epistemology and contemporary epistemology characteristically belong to different paradigms. Traditional epistemology is ideational while contemporary epistemology is an offshoot of positivism. Thematic difference: Protagonists of the contemporary epistemology are of the view that knowledge can be reconstructed by simply ordering propositions in the form of argument and Analysis of conditions under which a person knows is the way to justify knowledge. Traditionalists believe that material world determines what we know. So, analysis of material world and its appearance is the main concern of traditionalists.