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as we explore the intellectual landscape of TOK we will ask some seemingly simple questions but find that the answers to them aren't as obvious as we'd expect
as we explore the intellectual landscape of TOK we will ask some seemingly simple questions but find that the answers to them aren't as obvious as we'd expect
What is knowledge?
What is knowledge?
There are so many issues that TOK explores, but there are also some central ideas that will keep coming up as we make our way through the course. All of the Areas of Knowledge - all human understanding - make claims about and describe the world, as do we as individuals. But are all these descriptions accurate? Are we describing the world itself or simply creating a story that matches our human understanding?
There are so many issues that TOK explores, but there are also some central ideas that will keep coming up as we make our way through the course. All of the Areas of Knowledge - all human understanding - make claims about and describe the world, as do we as individuals. But are all these descriptions accurate? Are we describing the world itself or simply creating a story that matches our human understanding?
For example, does History describe the the events of the past as they really happened? Or, does it create a human made story that reflects our perspective just as much as it does the events of the past?
For example, does History describe the the events of the past as they really happened? Or, does it create a human made story that reflects our perspective just as much as it does the events of the past?
Does science describe the reality of the physical world as it really is? Or rather does it provide the most up-to-date model of reality?
Does science describe the reality of the physical world as it really is? Or rather does it provide the most up-to-date model of reality?
Are facts 'truth'? Are there different types of truth? What do we mean when we use the word 'truth'?
Are facts 'truth'? Are there different types of truth? What do we mean when we use the word 'truth'?
Are our values facts? Are our indispensable ethical norms the same as types of knowledge that can be justified with evidence?
Are our values facts? Are our indispensable ethical norms the same as types of knowledge that can be justified with evidence?
You can think of this big issue in a number of ways. Below are three helpful metaphors for TOK as a subject that will give you a sense of what it's all about. Your understanding of these metaphors will deepen as we progress through the course.
You can think of this big issue in a number of ways. Below are three helpful metaphors for TOK as a subject that will give you a sense of what it's all about. Your understanding of these metaphors will deepen as we progress through the course.
What is knowledge?
What is knowledge?
Metaphor no. 1 - the map or the territory?
Metaphor no. 1 - the map or the territory?
'A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness.'
'A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness.'
— Korzybski, Alfred (1973) Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics.
Do we forget that human knowledge is the map and not the territory itself? The AOKs we discuss all create a map describing their territory - the topics their AOK studies - they describe the world a certain way. But do we sometimes forget what limitations come along with creating maps? In what ways are our descriptions limited?
Do we forget that human knowledge is the map and not the territory itself? The AOKs we discuss all create a map describing their territory - the topics their AOK studies - they describe the world a certain way. But do we sometimes forget what limitations come along with creating maps? In what ways are our descriptions limited?
TOK explores how well our 'maps' represent reality, and how our methods for creating our understanding of the world say as much about us as they do about the world itself.
TOK explores how well our 'maps' represent reality, and how our methods for creating our understanding of the world say as much about us as they do about the world itself.
"three important things to remember about maps are: the map is not the territory; no map can represent all aspects of the territory; and every map reflects the mapmaker’s point of view."
"three important things to remember about maps are: the map is not the territory; no map can represent all aspects of the territory; and every map reflects the mapmaker’s point of view."
— Lutz, Wiliam (1996) The New Doublespeak: Why No One Knows What Anyone is Saying Anymore. HarperCollins, New York, NY.
Metaphor no. 2 - stories or fact?
Metaphor no. 2 - stories or fact?
Are our descriptions of the world stories, or are they facts? TOK explores the nature of the knowledge claims that we make about the world. For example, can any one AOK describe reality as it is? Or are they all looking at the world from different , limited, perspectives? Does some AOKs tell better 'stories' than others? Or perhaps some tell stories and others don't. What do you think?
Are our descriptions of the world stories, or are they facts? TOK explores the nature of the knowledge claims that we make about the world. For example, can any one AOK describe reality as it is? Or are they all looking at the world from different , limited, perspectives? Does some AOKs tell better 'stories' than others? Or perhaps some tell stories and others don't. What do you think?
Metaphor no. 3 - a clear mirror?
Metaphor no. 3 - a clear mirror?
“There is a wonderful expression: seeing through a glass darkly. Everything, even life, is inevitably removed from you. You can’t reach, or touch, the real. You just see reflections.”
“There is a wonderful expression: seeing through a glass darkly. Everything, even life, is inevitably removed from you. You can’t reach, or touch, the real. You just see reflections.”
— Douglas Sirk, German Film Director
When we use theories, ideas and methods to describe reality we aim to reflect it as it really is, do we succeed? Do we reflect clearly, or darkly?
When we use theories, ideas and methods to describe reality we aim to reflect it as it really is, do we succeed? Do we reflect clearly, or darkly?
TOK explores how well our attempts to reflect reality achieve that aim. It challenges us to be rigorous in our expectations of how AOKs make their knowledge claims.
TOK explores how well our attempts to reflect reality achieve that aim. It challenges us to be rigorous in our expectations of how AOKs make their knowledge claims.
Do the methods we utilise to find out things about the world distort what we find? Are our methodologies flawed in that they influence what we find?
Do the methods we utilise to find out things about the world distort what we find? Are our methodologies flawed in that they influence what we find?
Your task in this course is to figure out for yourself what you think about the AOKs that we study, how biased are they, and how limited?
Your task in this course is to figure out for yourself what you think about the AOKs that we study, how biased are they, and how limited?
So, are we any closer to understanding what knowledge is for the purposes of this course? Let's give a definition:
So, are we any closer to understanding what knowledge is for the purposes of this course? Let's give a definition:
'knowledge' - a description of a reality that can be seen from many perspectives
'knowledge' - a description of a reality that can be seen from many perspectives
Activity - the best at reality
Activity - the best at reality
Let's take these metaphors and apply them to our studies.
Let's take these metaphors and apply them to our studies.
What do you think? Are some fields of knowledge better at reflecting the truth, are some maps better than others? What are the limitations of taking a single perspective on things?
What do you think? Are some fields of knowledge better at reflecting the truth, are some maps better than others? What are the limitations of taking a single perspective on things?
In your groups look at the list of fields of human understanding, pick three that you think do the best job of reflecting reality clearly, and three that you think do this the worst. Make sure that you have a robust justification for each of your choices.
In your groups look at the list of fields of human understanding, pick three that you think do the best job of reflecting reality clearly, and three that you think do this the worst. Make sure that you have a robust justification for each of your choices.
Next list those that you think require the least interpretation.
Next list those that you think require the least interpretation.
Next, write next to all of the areas what you think their purpose is. Does this change your ratings?
Next, write next to all of the areas what you think their purpose is. Does this change your ratings?
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