The construction of knowledge upon the perceived intentional designs of a hidden agent. This is when an epistemology isn't just finding patterns, but is fundamentally rooted in the belief that a conscious, intelligent force (God, aliens, a secret society) is leaving deliberate clues, symbols, or messages in the fabric of reality for us to decipher. All evidence is interpreted as part of this intentional communication.
Epistemological Pareidolia Example: Intelligent Design creationism is often criticized as an exercise in Epistemological Pareidolia. Proponents look at biological complexity and see the unmistakable "face" of a designer, interpreting natural structures as deliberately engineered artifacts. Their entire knowledge claim about life's origin rests on perceiving this agency in nature, much like seeing a face on Mars.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 6, 2026
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