terminating judgment

philosophy

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July 14, 2026

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In philosophy, epochē (or epoche) refers to the "suspension of judgment". This principle was originally advocated by ancient Greek Skeptics from the Academy. They believed that since the problem of knowledge was unsolvable, adopting an attitude of non-involvement during controversies could lead to peace of mind.1

In the 20th century, philosopher Edmund Husserl adopted the term epochē as a technique in phenomenology. He proposed that philosophers should temporarily suspend their belief in common sense and the natural world, placing them in "brackets." This allows for a focus on pure consciousness and its appearances, rather than the objects of consciousness.1

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C.I. Lewis
…provided by what Lewis calls terminating judgment, which involves a statement about reality that has been verified empirically. Terminating judgments must refer to appearances, while nonterminating judgments may refer to other objects or values. Certainty and meaning may, however, exist in nonterminating judgments if a terminating judgment stands behind them.
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…provided by what Lewis calls terminating judgment, which involves a statement about reality that has been verified empirically. Terminating judgments must refer to appearances, while nonterminating judgments may refer to other objects or values. Certainty and meaning may, however, exist in nonterminating judgments if a terminating judgment stands behind them.
Read More