Theory of Knowledge

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Theory of Knowledge

• An Introduction

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How do I know?
Language
How reliable is the information?
but
but
How reliable are our senses?
Perception
Reason
Are we being logical? How strong are the
arguments / explanations we use?
but
Are my feelings rational? Can I trust them to
tell me the truth?
Emotion
but
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What the map represents is influenced by
In the curriculum, the same can be said for
which affects
Literature (what the author allows you to
see) Human Sciences (what the survey sample
allows you to see) History (what the selection of
sources allows you to see ) Economics (What the
statistics allow you to see)
perception, perspective, point of view
spatial orientation and projection
Literature (Eurocentrism) Natural Sciences
(Molecular? Genetic?) Mathematics (null
hypothesis)
what is placed in the centre
weighting, bias, significance
The Arts (symbolism) Literature (selection of
detail, themes) Arithmetic (a shorthand for
words, removes ambiguity)
conceptual symbols
content, cultural values, precision
the interests of the map-maker
History (revisionism / Holocaust
denial) Economics (how the statistics are
interpreted and used)
interpretation
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The map is not the territory (Alfred Korzybski)
The curriculum is not the world but an
interpretation.
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The BIG TOK QUESTION What do we know for
certain, and how do we know it?
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Activity On sheet 1, write down four things you
are certain of. Begin each one with I know
Now for each one, write down how you know
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Activity How do you know?
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Mathematics

logic
Human Sciences
faith
Natural Sciences
logic
logic
observation
memory
History
practice
logic
observation
observation
memory
Ethics
The Arts
logic
logic
belief
memory
memory
instinct
conscience
empathy
introspection
empathy
acquaintance
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The framework for Tok
Mathematics The
Arts Natural Sciences Human
Sciences Ethics
History
Reason Emotion Language
Perception
Ways of Knowing
Areas of Knowledge
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Problems of knowledge

• Our knowledge is determined in part by the way we
  are made our minds and bodies.

• Our knowledge, and our ways of gaining it,
• change over time.

• Different cultures, peoples and individuals
• see, think about and explain the world
• differently.

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• TOK is about exploring and solving problems of
  knowledge in and beyond the curriculum.

Our purpose in TOK is to ask how we know the
things we think we know. Our aim is to uncover
and question the means by which we have
knowledge.
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Nothing is certain in Physics and everything is
decided by probabilityRight or wrong?
What is meant by the scientific method? What is
the role of reasoning in Physics?
TOK Physics
Why is it that the physical universe seems to be
amenable to description in mathematical terms?
Is the scientific method a product unique to
western culture, or is it universal?
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In what ways can language be used to mislead?
Is it possible to translate between languages,
and express exactly the same thing?
Does the language you speak determine the way
that you think?
TOK and Language
Can any description ever be objective?
How do we explain things in our different
subjects? Do we always explain things in the same
way?
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ASSESSMENT

• Year 12
• 2 mini-essays (500-700 words)
• 1 long essay (1,000 words)
• Other reading and written assignments
• Presentations

• Year-wide deadlines
• Progress reports
• Attendance
• Grades reports

• Year 13
• Final TOK essay
• Final Presentation

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The TOK Journal

• will be a record of everything you have learned

• will be a vital source of information for your
  final essays and presentations

• will help you make connections between TOK and
  your subjects

• will help you organise and reflect on your ideas
  and experiences

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TOK Tips for Success

• Ask How do I know?, whenever you think you are
  certain of something

• Always look out for good examples of problems of
  knowledge in your subjects

• Make connections between subjects and the way we
  produce knowledge in them. How are they different
  or similar?

• Use your journal constantly, to make notes, write
  down experiences, describe dreams, paste
  cuttings, draw diagrams.