Epoché
A Greek philosophical concept meaning the suspension of judgment, creating a fixed reference point in time for evaluation.
Also known as: Epoche, Suspension of Judgment, Phenomenological Reduction
Category: Principles
Tags: philosophies, judgments, time, thinking, decision-making, phenomenology
Explanation
Epoché (Greek: εποχή) is a term meaning 'stop' or 'interruption.' In philosophy, it refers to the suspension of judgment - the deliberate act of withholding belief or disbelief about a claim or situation.
**The concept of frozen judgment:**
The relationship with 'epoch' comes from the idea that this suspension designates a specific moment or period - a fixed point in time that serves as an anchor. We freeze our judgment at a specific point in time, and that point serves as a reference for future evaluation.
**Historical origins:**
The concept originates from ancient Greek skepticism, particularly associated with Pyrrho and later Sextus Empiricus. It was later adopted and adapted by Edmund Husserl in phenomenology, where it became central to the phenomenological method.
**Practical applications:**
- **Decision making**: Pause judgment until you have sufficient information
- **Learning**: Suspend preconceptions to truly understand new ideas
- **Conflict resolution**: Hold off judgment to understand all perspectives
- **Self-reflection**: Create reference points to evaluate your own growth
- **Knowledge management**: Capture ideas without immediately categorizing or judging them
**In PKM context:**
Epoché can be applied when capturing fleeting notes - recording ideas without immediately judging their worth or categorizing them. This allows for more open capture and prevents premature dismissal of potentially valuable insights.
Related Concepts
← Back to all concepts