Theory of Knowledge

Theory of knowledge (TOK)

is not a subject but an opportunity to engage students in the inquiry.

In the International Baccalaureate diploma program, students are encouraged to review and contemplate the nature of knowledge and question not what we know but how we know anything through TOK. While the new TOK 2022 syllabus is a vibrant and much-extended version of its predecessor, the ways of knowing are an essential component to begin the topics in the classroom. They always help in concentrating knowledge to deal with optional themes, areas of knowledge, and TOK assessment including TOK exhibition and TOK essay.

For a student to secure an International Baccalaureate diploma, TOK is obligatory, or I must say compulsory.

As said above, students can be triggered to involve in a discussion that assists them to raise inquiry on a particular topic. Instructors are advised to use any newspaper article, object, etc to engage IB students. In fact, many real-life situations can be a great source to begin a discussion. The essence of the theory of knowledge (TOK) is to talk and raise questions. ‘To know’ is referring to Epistemology as it is cognizant with regards to the methods used in acquiring and producing knowledge, its validity, and the extent to which opinions and beliefs play a role.

 

The TOK concepts are the new ways through which the course is weaved. The 12 key concepts are evidence, certainty, truth, interpretation, power, justification, explanation, objectivity, perspective,
culture, values, and responsibility.

The above video is a great resource to begin the theory of knowledge discussion. In fact, across all IB subjects, IBDP instructors can use it to make connections with the topic in their respective areas of knowledge.

Knowledge has a strong connection with evidence. We tend to verify every piece of information and look for evidence in order to be certain. However, the quality of evidence matters, and what qualifies as evidence should be identified. The role of evidence changes as per the areas of knowledge because the evaluation of the model is different in human science versus natural science. The claims in natural sciences can be tested over and over again while in human sciences they may vary and remain untestable.

The evidence is considered as proof however it is subjective. It may be difficult to prove something in history and religion due to the lack of evidence and therefore different ways of knowing are used to explore such areas of knowledge. Faith plays a significant role in areas of knowledge such as religion while memory is one of the key contributors in areas of knowledge such as history.

Have a look at the examples of the role of evidence in history in the video below.

Further, to understand how evidence can create certainty and make information into knowledge, have a look at the video below. It is about religion and how faith overpowers logic or reasoning.

Similarly, a lot of examples can be gathered from the internet that questions the knowledge behind an incident, theory, models, cultures, historical events, scientific discovery, controversies, etc. Too many to mention here.

If you like what you read, you might consider reading the TOK exhibition