Each of the Areas of Knowledge and each Theme explore unique domains of human understanding, however, they are all presented and structured using a common framework - this is a key part of the TOK course - and is a feature that you will need to discuss in your TOK assessments.
The Knowledge Framework (KF) is also one of the most practical ways to think about TOK - when you get lost or aren't sure how to complete an assignment, open up the KF and use some of the ideas you find.
What is it? What is it for?
What worldview(s) are present here?
How does it produce its claims?
In what ways do ethical issues inform our understanding of this topic?
Activity: Gallery Walk - the Natural Science Knowledge Framework
As you know, in modern culture the Natural Sciences are a lot more than just subjects in a school - they're everywhere. Our culture has grown out of the scientific revolution. The sciences, therefore, inform our worldview: we think about the world through science. It has also influenced other academic subjects with its famous 'scientific method'.
This means that both through your studies, and through the cultures you grew up in, you already know a bunch about the natural sciences - so let's put that to the test! We will fill out these posters and then do a gallery walk before having a discussion about what you have seen.
Divide your paper into four equal sections and label them: Scope – Perspectives – Methods & Tools – Ethics
Next, try to answer the following questions for each section:
how would you define the Natural Sciences? Write out your definition.
what would you say is the purpose of the NS? Is there more than one?
what do you think are some of the big questions still to be answered by the NS? Be specific.
how might we characterise the worldview of the NS?
what voices have the most power here? Explain your choices.
is there a hierarchy of the NS? Write it out and be prepared to explain your choices!
what characterises the methods of the NS? Describe the 'scientific method'.
Does the goal of scientific enquiry justify the means to get there?
Would you sacrifice your freedom to save the world?
Choose one of these real-life examples and, using the KF for the Natural Sciences on p.31, see if you can find how the KF relates to the issues being discussed in the article. Use as many of the ideas as you think are relevant and do your best to explain the connections you find, not just point them out.
Remember, TOK is a critical thinking course, it can help you develop your thinking, arguing, and academic writing skills, if you make the effort to think through your ideas and how you express them.
Click on the link for Issac Newton's occult studies searching for 'The Philosopher's Stone'.