What is Epistemology Epistemology is the science of the proper methods used to acquire and validate one's conclusions about reality and give them the status of knowledge . Since existence is primary, the contents of one's mind - thoughts, ideas, emotions, etc. Our senses are our sole link to reality. The fact that entities have some identity is the basis of causality - things act according to their specific nature. Because of the nature of glass versus the nature of steel.
Identity leads to causality.
Ideas are validated by drawing a non-contradictory correspondence between them and some aspect of reality. Because I see it. 2nd Ed., Page 10. The Objectivist theory of concept formation is a radical departure from those advanced by other philosophies. This second point is important.