Your senior year is upon you! Well done so far, but it's not over yet. This semester we are going to be focusing on knowledge issues, areas of knowledge, and ways of knowing that are interesting to YOU. Much of this course will be guided by your input and I will try to be as much of a facilitator as possible, as this is the ToK way. In order for this to happen, though, you must all come prepared to class to think, write, think some more, rewrite, discuss, think some more, discuss, vehemently disagree with the logic and coherence of your peer's argument, question your own sanity and intelligence, then finally agree that there is no right answer, and move on. Sounds fun right!!?? I say this with a certain degree of sarcasm, but truthfully, at the heart of the ToK coursework is the idea that there is not necessarily one right answer, and that is (T)ok. In fact, it's downright welcome. We want to explore any and all possible answers in ToK. Question everything. Then question your question, ad infinitum.
I look forward to helping all of you start off (you're not even close to finished, despite the fact that many of you know where you'll be next year) your senior year with some interesting stories, articles, and ideas.
Although constructive, coherent, precise discussion is the cornerstone and primary focus of the second half of the ToK course, the secondary focus will be on the assessments (ToK paper, ToK presentation, final submission of EE) you are required to turn in after this class ends. Exact due dates will be communicated when they are given to me, but tentatively this will be sometime in the spring. Knowing the rubrics and understanding HOW you will be graded should remove all stress and doubt from this process.
Thanks for reading my rambling, incoherent mess of an introduction, see you in class, and good luck this year!
Sign up, sign in and start commenting!
"This was a good article about sense perception. It was cool to learn about."
ReplyDeleteJust kidding. Looking forward a school year of questionable ideas and thorough knowledge discussion.
I'm not sure if this comment belongs here or not...
ReplyDeleteMy group had the AOK of Math. This AOK is immediately connected to the WOK Reason as it lacks the amount subjectivity that is evident in History, Art, and even the Natural Sciences (qualitative data). Math is primarily use as evidence to support an argument and rarely the argument itself. This is because of what I said earlier, it is the most reasonable as the answer is either right or wrong, there is no grey area that is up for debate.
However Math can be manipulated as an argument highlights a tiny bit of mathematical evidence but those numbers alone do not provide the entire story. There is qualitative data, though open to subjectivity, that become important to support an argument.
Our group had Natural Science as an AOK. The Natural Sciences immediately caught my interest among the AOKs because of the fact that they rely on quantitative data and the scientific method much more than the other areas might- for example, the Natural Sciences and Ethics use much less scientific/quantitative content in their spectrums. The importance of Natural Science, then, is that it is arguably one of the few topics of TOK which hinge on more of an objective/factual basis.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, such an analysis of natural science fails to mention the fact that History and Math both also use similarly "objective" sources of knowledge to obtain conclusions. This fact helps to establish the strong link between the three.
My group had Indigenous Knowledge Systems as our AOK. Indigenous knowledge systems refers to groups of people who have a special set of knowledge that they pass down by to generations with little outside interactions. There are not many groups using indigenous knowledge systems in the world which makes it more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe AOK indigenous knowledge systems contrasts greatly with the AOK, natural sciences. Indigenous knowledge systems have their own way of curing illnesses and figuring things out. For example, the Sng'oi tribe in Malaysia is an indigenous knowledge system that use dreams as a way to cure phobias and illnesses. By conquering their dreams, they train their children to not fear certain things and not have phobias, while in the natural sciences medicine is used to cure illnesses.
My group (Cecca, Alton, and me) researched Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Indigenous knowledge systems mainly encompass the local knowledge of a specific culture or group, and it's contrasted with the other areas of knowledge in that it is much more fluid in nature.
ReplyDeleteOne such example of indigenous knowledge is that urban areas are increasingly basing architecture upon that of the ancient Egyptians because it has been found that their method keeps the area cooler and more energy efficient. Unlike in modern scientific discoveries, Egyptian architecture was not developed by following strict standards and protocols, as in the scientific method. It was mainly created through trial and error, and this flexibility characterizes indigenous knowledge systems.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems is definitely a very interesting area of knowledge. It is interesting in that it includes the basics of all other areas of knowledge- math, art, and the sciences are all involved in the creation of indigenous knowledge systems, although not as rigidly as we might. This could potentially lead to inaccuracies in their knowledge. However, there is still a lot that these knowledge systems have to offer and that everybody can benefit from.
My group had religious knowledge systems as our AOK. One thing very noticeable about this area is that is relies heavily on emotion. Religious beliefs can greatly affect how a person lives his/her life because of the strong emotion attached to it. Religious knowledge systems can also help form general reasoning about the world around us and how we should live our daily lives. I think this area can be very interesting because of large amount of controversy and disagreement that can form over this subject, as seen in the current crisis in the middle east. Because there are so many different religions in the world with fundamentally different ideas, there will never be the type of unity that you find in other aoks such as the natural sciences and mathematics.
ReplyDeleteMy group had Indigenous Knowledge Systems as our AOK. My group gave a pretty good definition "indigenous knowledge system" and I liked the point Alton made about how this knowlege system contrasts with sciences.
ReplyDeleteAn example of comes from minor cultures/tribes in China that rejected the idea of Western medicine. In cases such as heart attact, they thought that using herbs instead of Western medicine can cure the disease. They consider the native herbs to be completely scientific. Therefore, I think that the idea of Indigenous Knowledge System showed that the concept and definition of science is not universal and is built upon personal knowledge. The Indigenous Knowledge Systems also works with faith (one of the ways of knowing) because it is the culture and faith that made each indigenous knowledge system unique and science a less universal concept.
I also had the Natural Sciences as my AOK. The natural sciences are usually thought of as constructed out of reason because everything in natural science tends to make sense, but making sense does not necessarily mean being true. Concepts from natural sciences might/might not be true. These concepts can make sense within context since the natural sciences are limited by our perception (which includes its own boundaries). The natural sciences can be statistically distilled into quantities (like Harsh said) because it solely relies on perception. Typically, scientific concepts can be turned upside down or modified with new discoveries (an expansion to our perception); new species with new adaptations are found (such as the “immortal jellyfish”). It seems like the natural sciences claim a credibility that depends on universal perception in terms of replication. Science is a method, and it attempts to make sure you see what I see. The truth behind the natural sciences is questionable, and the reason behind them is momentary. From a certain perspective, the natural sciences promote survival. These sciences determine concepts about the world and humans (from a physiological standpoint). This in turn helps humans to continue forward. Art, math, ethics, and so on are all constituents of an advanced society, but they almost seem dispensable.
ReplyDeleteMy group had human sciences as our Area of knowing. We defined it as the delving into the human form from a behavioral and tendency standpoint that differs from natural science in that the findings in the fields associated (psychology, sociology, etc) are less based on rationalization and rely more on observation. Something we found intriguing about that is the fact that humans are the only creatures to try (and are able) to explore and attempt to understand themselves. We found it relatable to ethics, natural sciences, as well as indigenous knowledge systems. We found it relatable to ethics due to the fact that experimentation (specifically those which focus on human behavior) is limited due to guidelines developed by the APA and other organizations. Natural science in that some psychological phenomena such as emotional reactions come forth as a result of biological predisposition and chemical balances and imbalances. I however consider the correlation the human sciences have with indigenous knowledge systems to be the most intriguing. Human science doesn't just consist of psychology and sociology but anthropology as well, the study of human societies and the development of certain cultures.
ReplyDeleteMy group (Amber, Paul, Me) had the arts as our AOK. Art is interesting because it is considered an aesthetic that is held to a certain ideal, but the question arises to when we consider art "art". Art allows people to contemplate the meaning and give rise to certain interpretations that could or could not be based on original thought.
ReplyDeleteA complementary AOK could be mathematics, as there is a certain degree of systematic precision and organization involved in a work of art. Many photographers, for instance, hold the golden ratio (drawn as a spiral shell) into account when looking at a work of art. The "sweet spot" of the piece of art is usually located in the center of spiral, which reflects the spot that attracts the most attention. Although art can sometimes be perceived to be separate from mathematics due to its freeform nature that contrasts with the rigidity of math, they synergize well with the aforementioned precision I was talking about that gives the arts its level of contemplation and depth. History can also be considered when discussing the arts. Artist Damien Hirst is known for his exhibition of "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living". This specific artwork features a giant shark in a tank filled with formaldehyde solution and embodies the eternalizing of the fear of death (with the shark) even when it is dead. A better representation of history in the arts with Hirst is his "The Prodigal Son", which features a sheep sliced in half and preserved in formaldehyde. This alludes to the origins of Christianity and creates an awareness of death with the calf as a parallel with Jesus' death.
With "The Prodigal Son", we can see that religious systems will be one of the main controversies prevalent in art. What is considered proper art will also be an issue, as people debate whether or not art can either be "good" or "bad". Can art really be bad if it portrays a person's thoughts or creativity? Shouldn't creativity be a flexible term and not something restricted to what is thought of as aesthetically elite?
I would also like to add that even though we tend to think of art as an abstract, subjective form of expression, it is heavily driven by biology. It is the chemical processes of our brain that ultimately decide what we find pleasing/interesting in art.
DeleteConcerning music, my favorite type of art, it can be defined as the manipulation of math, and since math is precise and mechanical, it delights the brain. (This connect to what Alan is saying about how art and math are closely related). The brain itself is a systematic organ; one that craves order, accuracy, and precision. It gravitates towards music because music includes the playing of sounds at specific and recurring time intervals. The human ear can also differentiate between distinct pitches and has the ability to recognize harmony, sending these signals to the brain to be interpreted. This is auditory spatial reasoning, due to a balance of sounds. When dissonance or cacophony (disagreement in sounds) occurs in music, it startles the brain because it combines specific pitches together that are not harmonious. The sounds are displeasing and become uncomfortable.
Jeremy Bentham’s (philosopher) "pleasure-pain principle" helps describe why humans find art so attractive. Humans are going to gravitate to what gives us a sense of pleasure, and avoid discomfort. This directly relates to our subconscious interest in the arts. If our brains flood us with happiness (dopamine) during a specific act (like viewing art), then we are going to want to continue doing so. So with this is mind, we must not only think of art as a universal form of cathartic release; it's evolutionary.
My group had history as our AOK. History is the study of past events and what is interesting to me about history is how it provides insight to the future. It is often said that "history repeats itself" so it is important to study history to prevent any possible future catastrophes. From history, we also gain understanding of how and why the world around us is the way it is.
ReplyDeleteHowever, history also has it's faults. Not all accounts of history are trustworthy as many accounts are biased, misleading, or inaccurate due to the perspective of the narrator. Since history is based off of other people's account, we cannot trust only one source. It is best to vary your sources to see the whole picture rather than reading from one source and viewing the world in that one perspective.
Adding onto what our group had discussed, we feel that history incorporates many of the other ways of knowing. These include memory, sense perception, faith, reason, and emotion. We feel that the study of history allows us to view and understand the perspectives of the lives and events of the people before us. This area of knowledge also deepens our understanding of several other AOKs as well. We gain a much deeper understanding into the other AoKs with the context of history, which most especially would be the Arts, Religious and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Ethics, and the Human Sciences.
DeleteAnd as we mentioned before history cannot be seen as completely objective though; in some cases, its can be highly subjective. History is often shaped around the perspective of a certain group of people, and as the saying goes, "Dead men tell no tales."
Our AOK is unique because history is constantly being made and changing. With each event and new discoveries each day, history changes and may even differ from what was known only a few years earlier. For example in previous years people "knew" that people just came to be, however in today's society many people now know that humans came due to the long process of evolution. Our AOK is important because it is basically the story of of our existence on this earth as well as before humans ever came to be. Complementary AOKs to history would most likely be human and natural science because they provide history with the information that is needed. As for useful AOKs when discussing history, human sciences would be very helpful because as humans we tend to learn a lot from our interactions with one another that greatly influence history. There is an abundance of controversial topics in history because there are many conflicting facts that tend to make some information appear false. This is often seen in human history with the popular quote stating, "History is written by the victors".
DeleteMe and Rachel had the AoK of Ethics. We thought that this was a very interesting subject as this topic is basically decided on what people believe is right. In fact, it's a very subjective subject as everyone has their own morals and this AoK is different based on each person.
ReplyDeleteOne of the questions we could easily answer was "Does your AoK involve controversies?" (or something like that). We thought Ethics is basically the root of all controversies. Many controversies of today, like abortion and gay marriage, are such a big deal because of conflicting morals of people and what they believe is acceptable, hence the fighting. Furthermore, we thought that a good complimentary AoK would be religious knowledge systems as a lot of the driving force for ethics is based upon the religion we were raised up in.
My groups AOK was religious knowledge systems. Something i believe is unique about our AOK is that its one that is commonly assumed to be based on blind faith, or relying heavily on faith. Though they are based mostly on faith religious knowledge systems are important due to the large amount of human society and culture which revolves around different religions. Many people and even societies make decisions based on the commonly worship religious knowledge system.
ReplyDeleteAn AOK that i believe is complementary to religious knowledge systems is ethics. I believe the two are intertwined, because people will usually gain their ethics or justify their ethics depending on the religious knowledge system they believe in. Meaning that for most people religious knowledge systems create a moral compass.
Another AOK that i believe is useful to discuss when thinking about religious knowledge systems is History, because many religions are shaped a certain way overtime depending on the experiences these religious systems have in the outside world. Which over time changes the way followers interpret the religions teachings.
I believe there are inherently controversial topics in our AOK, most religious systems do not tolerate each other, which leaves us to think, how do you know what religion to worship? Are some religions more believable than others? Is it possible for them all to be correct? Is it possible for them all to be wrong? In the end the answers to all of these questions will be subjective, meaning that religious knowledge systems being a faith based AOK leaves lots of room for controversy.
My partner and I were assigned Human Sciences as our AOK to discuss, which coincidentally happens to be the AOK that intrigues me the most. One component of Human Sciences is Psychology, which aims to explain how and why people act/think/behave the way that they do. I believe this is one of the most important AOKs because it would be nearly impossible to communicate and work in unison with individuals if we are unable to understand how they think and behave. I believe this AOK has many case studies and experiments (psychological) to consider it one of the more reliable areas. However, on the other hand, for every experiment/study there is almost always another which contradicts the results, bringing in some doubt and uncertainty. This AOK ties closely with language and emotion seeing as how both effect how humans react and communicate with others.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFaith is the cornerstone of religion. News Flash, engineers: It governs your precious laws of mathematics as well. No doubt math is the most practical Area of Knowledge - conspiracy theories aside pro tempore, it allowed the Ol' Stars and Stripes to land a man on the moon with good physics and bad technology (compared to now, anyway) before Red Nation (i.e. "Iron Fist" Stalin) in the summer of '69, thus saving our national pride from being irreparably scarred. But just like any other Area of Knowledge, math relies on axioms. Without them, nothing would ever get done. But with them, we subject ourselves to a possibility of error, however infinitesimally small. If the axioms are wrong, everything is wrong. That's why the Challenger exploded, folks.
DeleteNow let's go back and pretend the conspiracy theories were true and that we never landed on the moon. This is known as radical doubt. It's pretty unreasonable in real life. But then again, what is real? Let's consider the metaphysical realm. What goes on in our minds is apparently interconnected in many ways with what our actions in the conscious world. Our imagination has its own power even when we are awake. Ever notice when you zone out and tune in simultaneously during deep breathing exercises? Theoretical mathematics is the name of the game if everything in the mind is real in this case. Separate but equal, if anything is real, any area of knowledge or way of knowing has the same degree of validity in its respective dimension. Your intuition can be 100% right in your imagination, which is real. So everything can be right, and everything can be wrong. Relativism to the rescue.
Religion is the area of knowledge my group had, and it is very controversial due to the fact that the world is composed of many different religions with different customs and traditions. The Christians believe in one god, whereas the Hindus believe in many gods. In the late nineteenth century, Africa was the one in the hot seat, being the center of world attention as European powers tried to make a part of Africa there. The Emperors and Kings wanted Christianity to rule the world. But really, is that how the world should be viewed? The impact was a shift in the traditions in African countries from ancestral to Christian based. We need to understand each other through religion, and only then will the problems of the world be effaced from the face of Earth.
ReplyDeleteMy group had ethics. We thought it was interesting (and important) because it determines what is right and wrong, creating guidelines for us to live by. In a way, it can also differentiate us from other animals, by having a sense of conscience.
ReplyDeleteA complimentary AoK could be human sciences. Human sciences study human behavior which could explain why we have a set of rules to live by and why we act the way we do. History could also play into ethics as we tend to fall back on it to determine if something is acceptable or not.
There are many controversial topics in Ethics, some of which include, death penalty, gay marriage, and animal testing, etc.
In the higher scoring Margaret Atwood "Context is all" essay, I was both entertained and educated by this strong essay. Although it was not a perfect score, it had strong qualities in development, continuity, and analysis. Learning about this writer's perspective on a "universal truth was very interesting because of the numerous examples and the detailed analysis of them. All in all I gave this essay a 16/20 and feel that it was very well developed but only lacked somewhat in establishing an opinion.
ReplyDelete