Sarah

The Qur’an is the holy book of Muslims and was fully compiled by the year 655. Since then, it has remained unchanged and has been preserved through memorization and written transmission across generations. I chose this object because the Qur’an is a primary source of knowledge for Muslims, especially when it comes to values and moral guidance. It connects directly to the TOK prompt because it shows how values influence how religious knowledge is understood and applied. 

The verse I chose discusses modesty and appropriate dress for women. While the Qur’an clearly emphasizes modesty, it does not give a specific description of exactly what clothing must be worn. Because of this, people rely on their cultural and social values to interpret what modesty should look like. This shows that knowledge does not come only from the text itself, but also from the values people bring when interpreting it. 

In many Arab societies, modesty is commonly shown through long dresses or an abaya. These styles have been worn for generations and are closely tied to cultural traditions. Because these traditions are so deeply rooted, people in these societies often see this form of dress as the correct and most authentic way to follow the Qur’an. As a result, religious knowledge about modesty is acquired in a way that supports existing cultural norms. 

In Western societies, Muslim women still dress modestly, but often in different ways. Instead of dresses or abayas, they might wear loose pants, long shirts, or layered clothing. While this still follows the principle of covering the body, some people from more traditional cultures may see this as inappropriate, un-Islamic, or as “imitating men. This disagreement does not come from the Qur’an itself, but from differing cultural values that shape how the same knowledge is understood. 

This shows that values affect the acquisition of knowledge by influencing what people accept as a “correct” interpretation. Even though the Qur’an remains the same, the knowledge people gain from it changes based on cultural perspective. This object shows that religious knowledge is not acquired in a single, universal way, but is shaped by values.

This object is a screenshot of my TikTok “For You” page. The video shown is about Alanis, with the caption “just a girl who is overly obsessed with Alanis.” I chose this object because social media is a major way people today gain information and form opinions. It connects to the TOK prompt because it shows how personal values affect what knowledge we are exposed to and eventually accept.

TikTok uses an algorithm that tracks what users watch, like, and interact with. These actions reflect what a person values or is interested in, even if they are not intentionally trying to learn something. Over time, TikTok begins to show more content that matches those interests. This means the knowledge a person gains is not neutral but shaped by their values. 

Because of this, knowledge acquisition on TikTok becomes selective. If someone interacts mostly with lifestyle, beauty, or fitness content, they will continue to see similar videos. Other perspectives or types of information are shown less often. This creates a situation where people believe they are informed, but they are only seeing a small portion of available knowledge. 

This also affects how believable information feels. When similar ideas or products appear repeatedly, they start to feel trustworthy or widely accepted. This relates to confirmation bias, where people are more likely to accept knowledge that aligns with what they already believe. Since TikTok constantly reinforces existing interests, users may accept information without questioning it. 

This is a real-world issue because many people rely on social media as a main source of information. Values influence knowledge acquisition even before critical thinking begins, because algorithms decide what content people see. I chose this object because it clearly shows how technology uses our values to shape what knowledge we gain and what knowledge we never encounter.

This object is a review of the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. I chose this object because many people rely on reviews to decide what books to read and what ideas to trust. It connects to the TOK prompt because it shows how a reviewer’s values affect what knowledge is emphasized and passed on to others. 

In the review, the writer focuses heavily on productivity, scientific research, and practical advice. They describe the book as being full of evidence and easy steps to follow. This suggests that the reviewer values efficiency, logic, and measurable self-improvement. Because of these values, the knowledge they highlight focuses on habit loops, small changes, and results. 

However, someone with different values might focus on different parts of the same book. A reader who values emotional growth or personal reflection might focus more on motivation, mindset, or identity. This shows that knowledge is not shared neutrally. Instead, it is filtered through what the reviewer believes is important. 

This matters because readers are not gaining knowledge directly from the book itself. They are gaining knowledge through the reviewer’s perspective. Before reading Atomic Habits, their understanding of it is already shaped by someone else’s values. This relates to the TOK concept of perspective, as the reviewer’s viewpoint determines what knowledge is emphasized and what is ignored. 

This is a real-world example of how values affect knowledge acquisition through communication. When people trust reviews, they are trusting value-based interpretations of knowledge rather than the source. I chose this object because it shows how values influence what knowledge is accepted, shared, and believed.