“We must make public health decisions based on science, on fact.” -humanitarian worker with a major INGO To know the world as a humanitarian Some general thoughts on epistemology “How do you know that?” is one of the most common questions we ask each other. Stated in its simplest terms epistemology is the study of how we know what we know and how we know we know what we know. Recently I was fortunate enough to get my second Covid-19 vaccine shot; I am now fully vaccinated. When someone asks me how I know that the vaccine works they are asking essentially an epistemological question. My answer is that I know based on the science behind the vaccine and the testing that was done in numerous and ongoing studies to amplify, clarify, and extend the information we have on the efficacy of the vaccine. That is to say, I am … Continue reading To know the world as a humanitarian