TOK ESSAY

TOK Essay samples

Here are a few examples of TOK essay samples from the previous batch. The assessment rubrics have changed though from TOK 2022.

TOK Essay sample 1

“Areas of knowledge are most useful in combination with each other.” Discuss the claims with reference to two areas of knowledge.

The construction of knowledge remains decontextualized if it remains unwoven through the threads of areas of knowledge (AOK). The combination of AOKs assists in the connotation that it may bring for a better understanding of a concept. Analyzing the concepts and interpreting them in the desired manner requires certain presumptions and subsequent validation. Knowingly or unknowingly, they overlap to be useful.

Whether or not AOKs are ‘most useful’ in combination remains questionable because their unique identities make them worthy independently.

‘Most useful’ illustrates optimum utilization. For example, Mathematics is a study of abstract patterns, and it is often believed that if something cannot be expressed using Mathematics, it has no practical value. Very little or maybe no combination of another AOK could make Math more useful. Math in itself is a standard of certainty and the science of rigorous proof, based on formal systems.

Therefore, one might say that it is used to know the world around us even if studied in isolation instead of a combination. However, there may be various degrees of value addition that an AOK may bring in combination with another.

For instance, Leonardo Da Vinci, a creative genius, used mathematical archetypes very often. M.C. Escher’s puzzle-like work involved shapes, forms, and cemeteries as a contemporary artist to display his creative passion.[1] The work of artists like Antoni Gaudí, Frank Lloyd Wright, and master, Michelangelo, are primary examples of the magic of math and art combined.

While this opinion is relatively valid for Mathematics, it is pragmatic to view other AOKs to understand their use, especially in combination.

Arts and religion are two distinct sets of practices and presentations that narrate experiences. While religion projects spiritual experience, art envisages human existence and constitutive factors that comfort religion, very often but not always. Art can be referred to as the representation of imagination using creativity and technical skills by humans in a diverse range of activities that appreciate beauty and evoke emotive aesthetics.[2] Similarly, religion is the way to deal with ultimate concerns that express relationships with the almighty. Religion, in a broader sense, is the appeal of the community to uplift the spiritual mind.[3]

It is difficult to imagine religion without art because it complements and transforms global cultures and religious values into a tangible record that demonstrates the path of salvation. What we now call art, once depicted religious themes or were religious objects.[4]

The combination of art and religion has been the founding principle to be used together, as they reciprocate each other through a common thread of faith and emotions. The divine connection of humans with the Supreme power is aesthetically reflected and displayed through this duo.

Looking through the history of religion in the west, the use and selection of images for traditions and cultural propaganda have always been professed. Also, in Hinduism, the image of Deity is a symbol of creative aspect, intuitively linguistic for its followers.[5]

The art showcases the attitude which supports the fundamentals of the belief about the respective daemon to be glorified and interpreted. Jewish artists paint humans to even depict prophets, including Moses, however, such artwork is usually not found inside synagogues where the focus is on worshipping God. Additionally, Roman catholic churches also feature decorative elements as a reminder of faith and fulfill the purpose of transpiring it.[6]

The cognitive function of art plays a major role in building faith. Faith usually faces evidentialist challenges and art supports it with conclusive opinions so that there is no burden of proof left. Art not only strengthens the belief by providing evidence but also embeds faith that goes beyond the evidence.

Similarly, the use of the written text of Holy books in artworks is religiously authoritative in western culture and helps in understanding religion better. The work of 80’s artists demonstrates signs and symbols from Christianity or Judaism.[7] It is believed that silence is the language to communicate with God. Many people across the globe are intimately involved in understanding religion through the use of language.

Retiree Anne Evans decided to learn Hebrew as a way to connect with her Jewish heritage after the death of her parents. She feels overwhelmed to recite Passover prayers in the same language which not only her parents but also many Jews from Russia to Afghanistan speak for thousands of years.

Language not only makes religion intellectual but also elevates social heritage meaningful through the transmission of prayers and worship. In fact, learning a language can possibly help to prevent dangerous misinterpretation of holy books.[8]

On the other hand, some might consider arts and religion not as ‘most useful’ in combination because art is recognized as an artist’s experience that empowers their imagination. It is mostly objective while sometimes subjective too. This is because the creative vision is personal knowledge, and connecting art with religion may sometimes involve mutually unagreeable perceptions due to shared opinions.

Religion is very seldom complemented in art. Art has been the source of religious controversies leading to the destruction of ‘art objects’ including the death of its supporters.[9] To state an example, the Taliban destroyed ancient statues in Afghanistan of rich pre-Islamic past due to conflicting ideologies and different use of art.[10]

Art has not proliferated within the likes of producers and consumers of modern artists. Many contemporary artists work today without deep-diving into the religious subject. However, Ana Maria Pacheco often picks religious subjects, including beheading the Baptist, to demonstrate a biblical story that critically dissects political examples of ‘truth to power. She used religion to draw people’s attention by referring it back to the violence generated by ‘colonialism’ and African slavery.

Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia’s status changed from a byzantine Christian cathedral for nine hundred years was stripped off to a mosque, in the 13th century, by religious and political leaders. The artwork demonstrated with Christian icons and luminous did not go well with Islamic ideology as huge black panels embedded with prophet Mohammad and many Muslim caliphs in Arabic calligraphy were installed.[11]

This raises the intolerance that certain religions have towards art and cannot satisfy the cultural appetite for enthusiasts of religious art. Furthermore, Islam prohibits the depiction of Muhammad to discourage any attempts to worship the prophet instead of God.[12]

Generally, there are no human figures in mosques, and the ottomans were not comfortable praying beneath the images of Jesus and Mary. It appeared inappropriate in mosques and was covered with sheets. The artwork created iconophobia in the premodern Islamic world.

Interestingly, faith can be seen through divine sense theory as it gives knowledge in a similar way as sense perception does. Typically, our divine sense enables us to sense the presence of God, as if we sense it as a tangible object. This argument supports and explains that belief through the divine sense acts as a base to be claimed as staunch.

Hence, art and religion, in the wake of modernism are often seen as strangers.[13]

Unfortunately, the conflict between different religious faiths conceals the beauty and the message that artwork reflects, independent of any religion, belief, and emotional commitment. By the end of the 18th century, the influence of religion was diminishing in art, and later, many artists received less attention who focused their artwork on religious themes, including Chagall, Rouault, and Matisse.[14]

Therefore, the combination may not always be considered as ‘most useful’.

The complicated relationship between religion and art needs periodic reassessment as the alteration in the cultures and surroundings largely influences it. While we cannot readjust political and economic influence over art and religion, it is pragmatic to separate the connection between the two sometimes.

The use of images, sculptures, and statues has enabled the belief within many followers. Such physical elements play a strong role in support of religion as it strengthens the connection between the two (follower and almighty). It is often witnessed that artists engage with people of a different faith because they have overlapping interests and concerns.

Sometimes when religion loses its vocabulary and fails to resonate with shared forms of beliefs within the society, art is used to start a conversation. Art helps us to know religion better through the use of language that deeply encompasses religious ideologies. Many across the globe profess that the knowledge of the traditional language is like knowing a religious language. The written text of holy books in artworks also makes the work of religion easy.

Contradictorily, the duo does not complement each other thoroughly. The reflections of change in art and its status have been very often demanded by religion. Faith in such scenarios is portrayed as divinity rather than being dependent on art and related resources.

The spirit of art has little to offer in the absence of the heartland of religion. However, religion offers itself as a spiritual theme to make art well and alive. It would be difficult to convey if art and religion are ‘most useful’ in combination with each other because religion is often used as an obstacle to avoid lessons that may have made belief much stronger.

Conversely, the combination of religion and art cannot be deemed as ‘least useful’ because it is noticed that religion has very little to offer, explain and justify its practices in the absence of art. The usefulness depends on different situations such as culture, time, the stance of the followers, historical relevance, heritage, and above all tolerance within the religion.

Tok Essay Sample 2

Within areas of knowledge, how can we differentiate between change and progress? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Progress in a concept of improvement from a less to a more desirable situation [15]. We all interpret progress differently. For example, our desire to have knowledge may force us to make decisions that can help us progress. However, some may question and claim that attaining knowledge is not making progress rather confusing us using methods through which knowledge is attained. Therefore, the journey of progress must attain and fulfill the destination which is known as change.

Progress is a subset of change as change involves becoming something which is radically different. For progress, there must always be a change however change could be regress.

For example, I am reminded of Theory of knowledge essay titles that are released every year. The titles are changed to assist students to develop an epistemological framework however the knowledge which students get after exploring those essay titles is the progression of epistemology level. Sometimes change acts as a catalyst to seek progress.

The differentiation between change and progress is visible to varying degrees in different areas of knowledge. Natural science is supposedly considered progressive with its standardized clear criteria that identify enhancements[16]. However, it has been witnessed that scientific beliefs change over time and how far they can be differentiated with the progress in natural science remains a questionable argument.

However, in human science clouds of doubt erupt as humans continue to live on this planet and gradually try to explore and learn about their own self-proclaimed habits. The untestable claims in human science convey different realms both change and progress as we try to make more sense out of different branches of human science.

The change and progress seem similar and overlapping however this essay envisage and manifests the role of ways of knowing that can best dissect the extent to which they are different. Therefore, to answer the title, the knowledge question, ‘Can explanations and justifications change over a period?’ needs to be explored.

Human science is vividly studied through emotions however emotions are typical feelings that we naturally consult when we make decisions. In the field of management, various motivation theories have been devised using emotions as a fundamental element and source of knowledge.

Across all hierarchies, jobs, positions held, and the nature of work, the most common thing is the everyday work events that ignite emotions and motivation. James Watson and Francis Crick, while attempting to build a DNA model described how making progress in meaningful work elevates emotions and motivation[17].

Their progress ruled their reactions. The sense of progress is creatively productive and motivating in the long run. In fact, ‘A Surprise for Managers’, survey by Harvard Business Review has linked ‘Progress’ as one of the principles to make managers understand where to focus their efforts[18]. The progress mimics both, the physical expression of the mood and the external body language demonstrated through emotions.

Alternatively, change in human science, with respect to motivation can be attributed to the change which an individual seeks and that is what drives him or her. Change here is a destination which a motivator manifest. The self-determination theory proposes a continuum.

This explains the targeted outcome which is tangible and measurable. These motivation qualities are reflections of behavioral persistence from worse to better. The outcomes can be seen in the change in wellbeing and personal satisfaction[19].

Note that, in both examples mentioned above, change is something that can only be imagined whereas progress is what you experience every day. Also, both situations contribute immensely in underpinning the personal emotional (happiness, sadness, anger, etc.) and secondary emotions (social emotions).

Primary emotions in motivation can be ascribed to joy and smile when a colleague may praise your work and commitment while secondary emotions could be a presupposition of a degree of self-awareness.

On the other hand, consider the invention of the Philip curve in economics. The static relationship between the inflation and unemployment rate did not change. There have been questionable arguments about the validity of the economic model. The dynamics of the major factors such as wage rate, labor market, bargaining power has changed over a period[20].

What is worthy of note is the way of knowing used in explaining both the situation in human science, business management, and economics. While emotions matter in describing or assessing the motivation aspect, the reasons are used and implied, mostly, to correlate an economic theory between the two variables.

One might say that the Philips curve is progress of economic as a discipline however the change in its conceptual framework is clearly visible. In fact, many claim that is has died[21].

In the US, the unemployment rate has been low however it has not benefitted workers in negotiating higher pay[22]. The determinants of the economic model have completely changed in the last many years. The knowledge conveyed earlier cannot be considered reliable and needs explanation and justifications.

Philips applied inductive reasoning that moves from particular to general. The inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment was termed as short-run after generalization from observed to unobserved. When inflation and unemployment both sustained in the UK after 1969, the long-run Philips curve was coined.

Inductive reasoning typically formulates laws in natural science however reliability of it in human science calls for immediate evidence. This is because well-established generalization can change too as we are dealing with uncontrollable variables of human behavior.

Despite the possession of the best characteristics of a good generalization including numbers, variety, and subject area, the mysteries of human science keep the change as a constant thing.

The explanations and justifications in human science are unscientific and therefore they cannot be precisely measured nor objectively observed. The differentiation between change and progress in human sciences is based on predictions and the laws of numbers. Both are progressive and changeable.

[1] https://theartofeducation.edu/2019/01/15/6-ways-to-connect-math-and-art-in-the-elementary-classroom/#:~:text=The%20work%20of%20artists%20like,using%20mathematical%20and%20creative%20skills

[2] https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/what-is-art/

[3] https://www.britannica.com/topic/religion

[4] http://web.sbu.edu/theology/bychkov/art%20religion%20intro.pdf

[5] https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/hindu-art/

[6] https://www.thespectrum.com/story/life/2016/03/26/religious-art-connects-people-god/82277344/

[7] https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/07/arts/religion-makes-an-impact-as-a-theme-in-today-s-art.html

[8] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/nov/10/language-learning-for-religious-reasons

[9] http://web.sbu.edu/theology/bychkov/art%20religion%20intro.pdf

[10] https://www.irishtimes.com/news/taliban-soldiers-demolish-ancient-buddha-statues-1.376336

[11] https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/responses/hagia-sophia-s-status-change-threatens-cultural-rights

[12] https://www.thespectrum.com/story/life/2016/03/26/religious-art-connects-people-god/82277344/