How does epistemology differ from metaphysics?

The correct choice accurately distinguishes between epistemology and metaphysics by highlighting their focused domains of study. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge, specifically examining the nature, sources, limits, and validity of what we can know. It explores questions such as how knowledge is acquired, what justifies belief, and the difference between belief and knowledge.

In contrast, metaphysics delves into the nature of reality itself, addressing concepts such as existence, the nature of objects, and the relationship between mind and matter. It seeks to understand what is beyond the physical, investigating the fundamental nature of being and the world.

By articulating that epistemology focuses on knowledge while metaphysics concentrates on reality, the correct answer underscores the philosophical distinction between how we understand and perceive knowledge versus the foundational nature of existence. This clarification is essential as it helps delineate the cognitive aspects of knowing from the ontological aspects of what exists.