- “In gaining knowledge, each area of knowledge uses a network of ways of knowing.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. (May 16)
- Given access to the same facts, how is it possible that there can be disagreement between experts in a discipline? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge. (May 2017)
- “Humans are pattern-seeking animals and we are adept at finding patterns whether they exist or not” (adapted from Michael Shermer). Discuss knowledge questions raised by this idea in two areas of knowledge. (May 2017)
- Areas of knowledge have methods for testing and supporting knowledge claims. How can we know that these methods themselves are reliable? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge. (Nov. 2017)
Some do and don’t for essay writing!
Do allow your own voice to guide the essay. You should not discuss the knowledge issues as a passive observer. Phrases like; “…this left me unconvinced” “…initially I found this metaphor seductive but…” ‘…while I accept the reasoning behind..I struggle to see how such a conclusion..” The examiner want to see that knowledge comes with responsibility and that you are already developing principles.
Do use unusual examples. The IB complains that the same examples* are recycled over and over again. The main worry is that students have gone to a ‘help’ site and taken examples. Be creative and original. Making unexpected links between AOK and WOK will make your essay stand out. (You can still use examples from the list I’ve linked to but try and provide an original angle).
Don’t use dictionary definitions of key terms. “Chambers defines ‘experts’ as… “ Find an example. The UK legal system has faced a crisis caused by its over reliance on so called expert witnesses. This raises a more interesting focus: the struggle to assign or identify someone as an expert. From this point you have an impetus for the essay, an overall point that can be argued that maintains a narrative through 1000+ words.
Don’t use ‘truisms’. “Some of the fundamental concepts of physics have been debated by Scientists across the centuries…”. The examiners know this already. A waffly introduction or conclusion will have a significantly negative impact on your grade!
Do signpost. Tell the reader what you are going to do, what it is you are doing and what it is you did. Make sure your paragraphs link and the overall thread of your argument is maintained.
Do use qualified language. Do not say prove, rather ‘supported the theory’ of ‘provided against the idea’.
Do use good, apt and well researched quotations. But please research, do not be the student who quote’s ‘Francis Bacon the Artist’ when it was really ‘Francis Bacon the philosopher’.
Q1 ….each area of knowledge uses a network of ways of knowing..
Is Mathematics impossible without imagination? If Maths is pure rationalism then why have computers failed to develop any new theorems. Imagination means that humans don’t just ‘know the world’, they can also imagine the world could be different (Mental Time Travel ).
Religious Knowledge Systems do not just rely purely on faith and emotion. They also use evidence! The guest speakers on RKS spoke about their perception of phenomenon in the world and their use of reasoning to try and explain uniquely human phenomenon. How humans can feel transcendence in relation to music and nature, what are why trying to connect with in the world, how can we explain hope, love and our search for meaning in life. RKS also debates the evidence in their scriptures or holy books and look for guidance by examining the life of the prophets or their spiritual leaders (virtue ethics).
The challenge of this essay title is move beyond simplistic notions of “Science is rational and Art is emotional”. All areas of knowledge need to utilise a range of WOK and an outstanding essay would be one that explores the unexpected use of WOK in the two chosen AOK.
Q4. Areas of knowledge have methods for testing and supporting knowledge claims. How can we know that these methods themselves are reliable? Develop your answer with reference to two areas of knowledge. (Nov. 2017)
In ‘unpacking’ any TOK essay title we can start with some of the key terms. It is important NOT to provide dictionary definitions within the essay introduction but rather find an example that immediately highlights the issue of reliability. This article highlights the problem of cell scientist working with contaminated cell strains. Here we can immediately make an observation that is true across all AOK. How do we test claims in the Human Sciences, what problems might arise in our methodology? Does Mathematics really empirically test its knowledge claims? Mathematics claims can be self-supporting (the method produces the type of results that you would expect).
The scientist in the example above felt their methods of testing were effective but had not noticed that the material they were working with in the lab was giving reliable (they were consistent) results that lacked validity (they were not actually measuring what they thought they were measuring). The scientific method aims for reliability (replication of the method will produce the same results) but the very nature of the method will sometimes produces results (misdiagnosis of blood pressure) that are reliably wrong!
After this you should carefully choose the AOK you will use based upon the Knowledge Frameworks.
Q2. IS the key word “experts’? What examples can you think already where there are disagreements? The question speaks about facts, but facts do not speak for themselves! What happens to ‘facts’ produce in scientific investigations: what is the process of used within the scientific method or even the methods or Historical investigation that inevitably causes disagreement?
Q3. “….pattern-seeking animals”. What are the patterns we are looking for? Does it help in the production and acquisition of knowledge. Are we finding patterns that are naturally there or we inventing them (Pareidolia)? What is the problem, in relation to knowledge production, that arise in both finding and inventing patterns?