The Theory of Knowledge—a core element of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme—is a course in epistemology and practical philosophy. By examining short texts (including but not limited to local and world issues, philosophy, history and its perspectives, and scientific research) and the knowledge issues they contain and inspire, you will gain the skills necessary to analyze knowledge claims, their underlying assumptions, and their implications.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
They're Out There...They're Everywhere
Please use this post to share Knowledge Questions from your daily life. Troll the halls for moments of knowledge, identify the situation that prompted your thinking, and extract a first-rate KQ. Please share two for Thursday morning. Happy fishing!
1. How can the knowledge of the past define the present/future?
How does the past of Stoneleigh Burnham affect the way that every girl attending this school lives? Is there a true Stoneleigh Burnham girl? And is it fair to create that model?
2. How can something that you cannot see characterize you?
How does one live up to something and hold on to it, if nobody else knows whether it is present or not? How does the meaning of it, then, change?
Real world situation- There is a lack of commitment in an organization. Strong KI- To what extent does the lack of grades/strong consequences affect how students approach responsibilities? Real world situation I need a key to get back into my room but one of my roommates is not around, but her bag is. Strong KI- In what ways does familiarity change boundaries/a person’s humanity?
1. How ethical is it to use propaganda and propaganda techniques in order to achieve certain goals?
2. What obligations, if any, do people have to their pasts?
During my TOK field trip, I interviewed one of the administration members who was involved with matters concerning alumnae and donations. I learned about her job and what she did everyday. We discussed the different ways the school attracted donations and what the office did to increase that revenue. The knowledge issues above were inspired by this conversation.
1. To what extent can nature and artificiality be one? I was walking through the courtyard in the school, and I saw those trees and grass there. Although it is winter now, and most of them only have naked branches, I can see the life there that tells me their existence. They are waiting, waiting for their season to show their vitality. These plants led me to think about the power of the nature. Then, I saw the building around the courtyard. I began to think about the relationship between nature and the artificial things that humans make.
2. To what extent can emotions be transfered among people/to people? After I passed through the courtyard, I went to the blue room, and sat there thinking about the first knowledge issue. While I was thinking, I opened a brochure on the desk. In the brochure, I saw many faces with different expressions on them, mostly smiling. I didn’t even notice that at first, but later I realized that my own emotion was influenced by the facial expressions in the brochure, and I came up with this knowledge issue.
During the TOK field trip I passed the large map in the english/history hallway. Mr. Bogel was also there, and made comment about all models being imperfect. His comment inspired me to come up with the following questions:
- To what extent is cartography biased?
- What is the effect of cartographic bias? How does cartographic bias affect both what it portrays and the person who sees it?
1. How can the knowledge of the past define the present/future?
ReplyDeleteHow does the past of Stoneleigh Burnham affect the way that every girl attending this school lives? Is there a true Stoneleigh Burnham girl? And is it fair to create that model?
2. How can something that you cannot see characterize you?
How does one live up to something and hold on to it, if nobody else knows whether it is present or not? How does the meaning of it, then, change?
Real world situation-
ReplyDeleteThere is a lack of commitment in an organization.
Strong KI-
To what extent does the lack of grades/strong consequences affect how students approach responsibilities?
Real world situation
I need a key to get back into my room but one of my roommates is not around, but her bag is.
Strong KI-
In what ways does familiarity change boundaries/a person’s humanity?
1. How ethical is it to use propaganda and propaganda techniques in order to achieve certain goals?
ReplyDelete2. What obligations, if any, do people have to their pasts?
During my TOK field trip, I interviewed one of the administration members who was involved with matters concerning alumnae and donations. I learned about her job and what she did everyday. We discussed the different ways the school attracted donations and what the office did to increase that revenue. The knowledge issues above were inspired by this conversation.
1. To what extent can nature and artificiality be one?
ReplyDeleteI was walking through the courtyard in the school, and I saw those trees and grass there. Although it is winter now, and most of them only have naked branches, I can see the life there that tells me their existence. They are waiting, waiting for their season to show their vitality. These plants led me to think about the power of the nature. Then, I saw the building around the courtyard. I began to think about the relationship between nature and the artificial things that humans make.
2. To what extent can emotions be transfered among people/to people?
After I passed through the courtyard, I went to the blue room, and sat there thinking about the first knowledge issue. While I was thinking, I opened a brochure on the desk. In the brochure, I saw many faces with different expressions on them, mostly smiling. I didn’t even notice that at first, but later I realized that my own emotion was influenced by the facial expressions in the brochure, and I came up with this knowledge issue.
1. How do rules/conformity benefit society?
ReplyDeleteUniforms- are they uniting everyone? What is originality? Does making everyone dress the same make them more united?
2. To what extent are good grades important in one's life?
To succeed in life do you need good grades? or are there other ways to become successful?
1. To what extent is one wise if he or she has knowledge but no experience?
ReplyDelete2. Should there be regulation of knowledge?
During the TOK field trip I passed the large map in the english/history hallway. Mr. Bogel was also there, and made comment about all models being imperfect. His comment inspired me to come up with the following questions:
ReplyDelete- To what extent is cartography biased?
- What is the effect of cartographic bias? How does cartographic bias affect both what it portrays and the person who sees it?