TOK explanation

Theory of Knowledge

TOK aims to make students aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases. It therefore demonstrates the ways in which the student can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility.

Index

1. Intro

1.1 Knowledge & knowledge questions

1.2 Knowledge framework

1.3 12 key concepts

2.2 Perspectives

2.1 Scope

2.3 Methods and tools

2. Core theme: knowledge and the knower

2.3 Ethics

3. Optional themes

3.2 Knowledge and politics

3.1 Knowledge and technology

4.3 Mathematics

4. Areas of knowledge (AOK)

4.2 Human sciences

4.1 History

4.4 Mathematics

4.5 The arts

5. Assessment

5.1 TOK exhibition

5.2 TOK essay

1. Introduction to TOK

Multiple perspectives, analysis of the validity of evidence, and application of evidence.

1.1 Knowledge andknowledge questions

More meaningful and comprehensive understanding of how knowledge is constructed.

Critical analysis, self-reflection and intellectual empathy.

What are the applications of equations?

VS

Is the value of math knowledge proportional to its usefulness in the world?

Knowledge questions must be:- It is about knowledge - Open ended and contestable

1.2 KNOWLEDGE FRAMEWORK

PERSPECTIVES

SCOP E

- Identify bias and understanding the role of context on knowledge creation.- Knowledge is created in the context of culture and they change over time.

- Problems and issues that a particular AOK attempts to solve.- ‘What makes the knowledge produced in this AOK important?’

ETHICS

Methods and tools

- Inquiry in all the AOKs is limited by ethical constraints.- To reflect on an individual knower’s ethical responsibilities once they have knowledge.

- How knowledge is produced and what methodologies does AOK use for the knowledge production (implications and similarities)- ‘Why do you think that?’

1.3 12 key concepts

EvidenceCertainty Truth Interpretation Power Justification

ExplanationObjectivity Perspective Culture Values Responsibility

2. Core theme: Knowledge and the knower

2.1 Scope

What kinds of knowing do we have?

Our human thinking: What are the limits of knowledge?

Human biology: What are the limits of knowledge?

2.2 Perspectives

How do perspectives affect our knowledge?

Open mind

What shapes my perspectives as a knower?

2.3 Methods and tools

'Justification': supporting knowledge claims

Justification: evidence

Justification: sources

Intuition and cognitive biases

Justification: reasoning

Justification and persuasion

Kinds of knowledge claims

2.4 Ethics

Ethics, knowledge, and the world

Facts and values

Ethical perspectives

Ethical responsibility and knowledge

Ethics and the circulation of knowledge claims

1. Inductive reasoning

2. Deductive reasoning

3. Hypothetical-deductive reasoning

1.Selection of information and ideas

2. Values

3. Emotions

4.Sources of knowledge

5. Assumptions

6. Implications for action

1. Virtue ethics

2.Ethics of care

3. Ethics based on principles or duties

4. Ethics based on consequences

1. Whom do you trust?

2. Authority and experts

3. Consensus

1. Willingness to listen

2. Self-awareness of your own perspectives

3. Thoughtful and critical attention to what is being claimed and why

1.Morality and ethics : values

2. Morality and human sciences: facts

1. We often distort our conclusions because of the impact of emotion

2. We do not always use reasoning with care and with realistic expectations

3. We answer the questions we choose to ask

1. Making ethical arguments

2. What ethical restrictions confine knowledge claims? * Telling the truth *Doing no harm

1. Do we have a responsibility for knowing, and acting, as societies?

2. Do we have a responsibility, as societies, to provide ethical guidelines to new knowledge?

3. How can we act collectively and ethically outside of governments?

1. Our rapid pre-conscious thinking may also give us quick insights that we call intuition.

2. The problems are our rough judgements and reactions. They are the product of our cognitive biases that are built right into our brains and systematically influence our conclusions.

1. We access reality with the biological mechanisms of our species, so catch only a part of what we assume is there

2. We process reality with the biological mechanisms of our species, so interpret in a human way

1. Cultural perspectives

2. Political and religious perspectives

3. Communities of interest, identity communities & knowledge communities

1. Persuasion in society. Having the critical skills to do so is essential to navigating your choices in a society.

2. Defence against manipulation. The tactics of advertising can be very effective, especially with so much current research on how our human minds work.

1. Distorting evidence

2. Anecdotal evidence

3. Cherry picking evidence

1. Observational statements 2. Value judgements 3. Metaphysical statements 4. Predictions 5. Hypothetical statements 6. Definitions

1. Knowing from personal experience

2. Knowing how to do something: skill

3. Knowing that something is so: information and ideas

1. Responsibility for knowledge

2. Reflections on responsibility to yourself as a knower

1. ustifying a knowledge claim means providing good reasons for accepting and asserting it.

2. Justification is a matter of degree. Five observations are better than one.

3. The amount of justification you expect depends on whether the knowledge claim is trivial or important.