TOK Ch. 1-3 p. 1-41

Team 1: 1-7Team 2: 8-15Team 3: 16-23Team 4: 24-29Team 5: 30-36Team 6: 37-41

Theory of Knowledge

Introduction and Assignment OutlineOn Being KnowersQuestionsLearner Diagram

Where are We Going?

• TOK Lecture 1: Intro to Course– Pictures and contact information– Understanding weekly assignments– Understanding/Applying Questions– Goals of TOK– Intro to Knowledge Issues: Definition

and models– Homework: Learner Profile and Blog 1

Weekly Assignments Rundown

• Cornell Notes: – Minimum one page front and back per weekly reading.

Information must be analytical and representative of the entire reading for credit.

– One side is for lectures, backside is for Jigsaw chapter readings.

• Blog Entry: – Minimum one entry, when edit/expansion, and one response.

EC for more discussion/debate.

• Argue it Out: – Knowledge issue positioning towards debate. Includes

evidence and rebuttals.

• Philosopher Portrait: – Historical figure and his contribution to ToK. MIND Acronym.

Project Rundown• Case Studies:

– Investigating important experiments, legal briefs, events, or discoveries and what it tells us about knowledge issues.

• Debates: – Articulating problems of knowledge from a viewpoint and defending

in conversation against a detractor. Both formal and informal.

• Research Papers: – Practice PoK writing with original research in learner-led areas.

• Socratic Seminars: – Formal and informal conversations based on pre-planned questions

and data within teams.

• Presentation Assessment: A single or team presentation of a knowledge issue. (March 3, 2014)

• TOK External Assessment: – comparative and analytical paper on one prescribed title from a list.

1,200-1,600 words. One chance for formal teacher review. (March 10th, 2014)

What is a Question?

• What are some implications and associations about “Questions” from the following sentences:– “Quick, what is the answer to question

3?”– “I question your ability to teach us.”– “This food comes from questionable

origins.”– “your question will only lead to more

questions”

Activity: Whose Line? Questions Only

• Two people begin a scenario in which an entire conversation is completed with ONLY QUESTIONS:– Have to be coherent

and specific.– No Statements– 50 points extra

credit to the longest participant.

I Know Why you are Here.

It is the QUESTION that drives us

It is the QUESTION that brought you here

Types of Questions • Factual

– Asking direct information• Data point

• Convergent– Basic inference

• Themes

• Divergent– Projected changes in

information• What if?

• Evaluative– Meta-analysis

• Compare/contrast• Two or more themes

• Combination

Good or Bad Questions?

• Is there a such a thing as “bad question”?

• The type and specificity of question is vital to discovering areas of knowledge.– A question too broad

leaves the knower scattered.

– A question too narrow leaves the knower locked into one area of knowing.

– A question with a simple answer leaves the knower with no room for progress

Constructing a Problem of Knowledge

• Problems of knowledge have 3 main characteristics:– Ways of knowing is

represented: • ask about the mechanisms by

which we understand a position

– Use qualifications and consider a range of answers:• “To what extent is it justified…”

– Either areas of knowing or potential audiences are considered• What trains of thought from

history of disciplines lead you to your conclusion?

Three Main Goals of TOK

• The TAO of TOK

–Types of Knowing Inquiry

–Application of Knowing Inquiry

–Origins of Knowing Inquiry

Ground Rules for Questioning

• Fallacies are not to be used to silence an argument.– This is not a debate or

rhetoric class.– We are learning, discussing

and evaluating with critical, yet compassionate empathy

• Discussion will be moderated, and equal time given to all positions– Time constraints may

determine balance, but further investigation will often result as homework

What is Knowledge?

• How is Knowledge different from fact? How is it the same?

• If the universe was devoid of intelligent life, would there be “Knowledge”?

• What is the relationship between the knower and knowledge?

TOK Diagram

Knowledge Prism

• Knowledge is reliant upon various presuppositions:– Rationality, laws of logic, and

language can be used consistently and with meaning

– Statements and observations can be investigated against counter-factuals to correspond some semblance of “external world” and “the way things really are”

– An identity and mind to process, articulate, and construct a worldview based on observation and truth statements.

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Rationality

Knower

Rational and Empirical

• What is the difference between the following phrases?:– “2+2=4”– “This cat is orange.”– “I was probed by an alien last

night.”

• Rationality: intuited propositions deduced towards knowledge. – A priori knowledge

• Empiricism: Knowledge and concepts needed for knowledge come from our senses and perception.– A posteriori knowledge

Plato: “Justified True Belief”

• Knowledge, according to Plato, has three parameters:– Justified: Is a truth claim in

the realm of falsifiability?– True: is there enough

evidence or reasonable argument for its probable correctness?

– Belief: do I internalize and assume the claim into my worldview and understanding

Acquaintance vs. Description

• “If you can’t say it, you don’t know it” – Hans Reichenbach (German

philosopher of science, 1891-1953)

• “I know more than I can say.”– Michael Polanyi (Hungarian

philosopher of science, 1891-1976)

Learner Profile Project

• In teams of four:– Copy my Prezi from the

blog link at tctok.us called “Learner Profile Project”

– Throughout the course, begin a collage and summation of the thoughts and visuals that represent our discussion topics and readings

– Think of it as a TOK Pintrest.

Blog Assignment 1: Developing Knowledge Questions

• In Teams of Four:– Write down the following words

and begin free associating for 5 minutes each:

1. Violence2. Culture3. Identity

• Take those three terms begin free associating them as three connected ideas

• Respond on tctok.us with a problem of knowledge question that uses these three words.