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What is the scale, that covers our knowledge – from which facts does our knowledge come? What is
the source, ie - how criminal knowledge is acquired? Is there an experiential knowledge? Scientists have
posted the first question since early twentieth century, although for such questions there may be older
approaches, for example from the ancient period. The second issue was subject of concern to Platon. That
question with less or more intensity is present throughout the history of philosophy till today. As for the third
question, the philosophers from ancient times answered, but it is central issue on epistemological discussions
in middle and early modern period. A fourth issue arises from skepticism and it is a topic or the subject of
epistemological discussions from antiquity to today. Attempts to answering these questions throughout the
history of philosophy, inevitably led to the appearance of additional, more natural questions. Mainly they
have the following additional questions: What is justified belief - under what conditions certain belief can be
considered as justified? What is "science" and what are the components scientific knowledge which are
called "actual" or "real"?
The central questions of epistemology: what is knowledge - what is the review and definition of the
concept of knowledge that can be considered as concrete? What comprises our knowledge - or otherwise
asked what facts derived from our knowledge? What are the sources of knowledge and how is determined
knowledge acquired? Is there an experiential knowledge? The first question is the subject of interest of
philosophers from the second half of the twentieth century, but these issues were discussed to certain
boundaries in ancient times. Platon paid first proper attention on second question. This question from
particular oscillations has been present throughout the history of philosophy, from its appearance to date. The
third issue was brought up at the ancient philosophy, but it is central in epistemological discussions in the
middle ages and early modern period. The fourth question arises from skepticism and is a theme that is also
subject to epistemological discussions that lasts from ancient philosophy to this day, although there are
periods in which concerns of skeptics were not accepted or were ignored. Attempts
to answer these questions
through the history of philosophy, inevitably conditioned appearance of additional, more natural questions.
As for the additional questions the following impose mainly: What is justified belief - under what conditions
certain belief can be justified? What is the meaning of "science" and what is scientific knowledge which we
call "real" or "actual" ie "true"?
Epistemology always strives to systematize and evaluate research experience of a science. Such attempts are made
at epistemological analysis of the criminal information. Methodology has similar tasks, which in turn in terms of research
activity on particular science, in this case the criminalistics, is independent. If this is not case, it could not perform its basic
and primary function, which consists of logical-epistemological critique of scientific research practice, taken in all its
logical, technical, organizational and strategic aspects
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. It means, epistemology investigates the logical foundations,
opportunities and basic principles of scientific knowledge, in this case knowledge of the science of criminalistics. In fact,
epistemology is the theory of scientific knowledge that systematizes, links, comments and explains the various cognitive
elements characteristic of process of knowledge. Therefore, the developmental stages of each science, and also on
criminalistics science, are marked with proper epistemological critique, i.e assessment of the progress of scientific
knowledge.
Scientific "realism" means two basic principles: first that scientific theories must be
interpreted in such
a real way to be able to see clearly what is true and what is not and the second setting is that science must
certainly provide theoretical and practical justification with the true facts as a foundation for further
development and upgrading
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. Starting from scientific realism and the father of criminalistics here, Professor
Vladimir Vodinelic at the very beginning concluded that “there are little terms in the science that are related
so unclear, imprecise, and different presentations in theory and practice, as is the case with criminalistics.” In
fact, until recently, people working on criminal law in Europe talked about "criminal law", by which they
mean those matter that today in general called - criminal or penal law. From just criminal comes the term
"criminalists" for lawyers who are not dealing with detection and prevention on crime but studied crime as a
legal term. And today this term in this respect remained in use.
Contrary,
the European police circles, when it
comes to the criminalistics, primarily referring to the technical research methods, apparatus and means by
which it discovers and reveals the unknown perpetrator, while others think that it is an activity on the
criminal police. They call it "Criminology" or "Criminalogy”
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.
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Vojin Milic: Sociological method Nolit, Belgrade, 1977; p. 20-24;
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http://www.milosnikolic.op.rs/content/057a4950-2f8f-11e3-b536-000000000000-1.pdf [accessed
30.08.2014];
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Vodinelic, Vladimir:
Criminalistics - detection and proving, Volume I, Faculty of security and social self-protection, Skopje 1985,
pg.5;