In the first Theory of Knowledge class, we introduced ourselves, so that we could know each other better. We also took part in activities and discussion in order to understand each better and develop a brief understanding of what TOK is. During the class, I learnt that knowledge is the intersection between truth and belief. Before this TOK class, my understanding of knowledge was very basic. If someone asked what is knowledge, I would have said that knowledge is the information, which we acquire from our education or our experiences. However, during the class, I learnt that the definition of knowledge is not very simple.
Another important thing that I learnt during the TOK class is that reasons for knowing something is more important than knowledge itself. For example, when I was about eight years old, I had to take the chicken pox vaccine. The doctor said that I should take the vaccine because it can help prevent chicken pox, which is common and highly contagious infection. However, some sources on google mentioned that the chicken pox vaccine can actually cause chicken pox even though its purpose is to prevent the infection. The preceding information is just knowledge. The reason for the knowledge is that the vaccine itself is a live and weakened form of the virus and also the success rate of the vaccine is much greater than the fail rate, so I decided to take the chicken pox vaccine. Till date, I have not got chicken pox. Therefore, I think the reason for knowledge is more important than the knowledge itself.
3 conceptual understandings that I believe to be true:
- Religion is a cultural system based on a set of values and beliefs, which can’t be be justified with good reason.
- Mathematics is all about using logic and creativity to solve complex problems and to describe the world around us.
- Ethics is a branch of philosophy and a system of moral principles that is based on a well-found interpretation of what is right and what is wrong.
Thank you Suhaas. I am sorry you had trouble with the IT, but glad you have it sorted now.
I am two minds as to how to respond here. On the one hand you are new, and the IT is new, and you have joined Tampines house; I know all these things are things to manage and perhaps you have just managed to post this.
On the other hand, there appears to be very little effort here – you have not followed the instructions for the first task (I asked “What are the two most important things you have learnt about TOK? Use some examples from your personal experience to explain) Your second point is a direct quote from a slide, and you have no examples. And the CUs are Ok, but do not appear to have been given much thought.
If this is the result of some deep thought then perhaps I have misjudged; but from class you seemed to have much more insight than is apparent here, so I am thinking there my be an effort problem.
My tendency, Suhaas, is to give you the benefit of the doubt for now. You might like to click teh links to look at other students’ work to get a sense of what I would expect.
I think best to be honest; so please take this comment in the spirit it is meant -that I want you to improve, and to end up having learnt a lot. I think you learning is important, and I hope you do to – and I will nudge you quite hard on this as I need to.
Dear Suhaas
Thank you for taking the trouble to go back and improve this post; it is much better – well done.
I think you have addressed some important points here; in particular that ‘knowledge; itself is not a straightforward term; and also that justification is a very important facet of what we will be considering. I also thought that some of your comments in class today were insightful.
So well done for this step-change. I am now looking forward to reading the next posting 🙂
Nick