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Rationale for selecting Epistemology, Self and TechnologyThe three 'foundational' domains were chosen because I was aware that (information) technologywas having an impact on my career. This was, I realised, affecting me as a self and I was keento know in what ways that might be the case. It became important, therefore, to re-visit thetheoretical explanations as to why I know what I have come to know and even some of theprocesses by which this has happened.There is some 'fuzziness' (Reid, 2008) with regard to interchanging the words 'epistemology' and'knowledge'. Epistemology, according to Hanks (1989) is a noun, "the theory of knowledge."(Hanks, 1989 p. 514). I want to argue that my review of the literature shows that there aremultiple theories of knowledge so I prefer to see epistemology as the study of knowledge inmuch the same way as theology is the study of theos - God. Quinton describes epistemology as,"the philosophical theory of knowledge, which seeks to define it, distinguish its principalvarieties, identify its sources, and establish its limits" (Quinton, 2000 p.279). In this thesis,therefore, I am keen to show the principal varieties of my knowledge, show their sources andestablish their limits. The first section is designed to set out how I believe I know things. Thesecond sets out how I act as a self, though in this case I intend to limit this discussion to myprofessional self as an educator. In the third part of the chapter I want to explore veryspecifically how emerging and evolving technology has been influential on the development ofmy professional knowledge, skills, identity and, ultimately, career.29Simon Hughes Ph.D. Thesis (October 2012)