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Title 2- Within Areas of knowledge, how can we differentiate between change and progress?

Tok Essay Titles May 2021

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

The shade of difference between change and progress

The change and progress seem similar and overlapping. However, this essay envisages and manifests the role of ways of knowing that can best dissect the extent to which they are different.

Progress is a subset of change as change involves becoming something which is radically different. For progress their 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 develop 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.

A change makes or breaks

Students must distinguish the thin line between change and progress. Does change involve invention or creation of any novel idea, device, method, composition? Or is it process assists the change to move on? Students can compare innovation with invention.

  • Do you think that people who ideate are the creative genius and always remembered?
  • Is every invention capable of changing the world? If no, what might be the reasons?
  • Some think that it’s the immaturity of the society not to identify the inventor’s genius or may be the bad luck kills the fame of the genius.

However, such presumptions are not always true.

Consider the acumen of the innovator who claims for a patent. There are evidences where some patents or inventions fade out in oblivion or in the shadow of glory.

On the other hand, the so-called lucky ones shine and shimmer in the limelight. Is luck the key for success or is it the innovator’s established glamour?

Radical versus baby steps

Change is difficult and progress is easy. Change is radical and progress is baby steps. This has serious versions depending on different areas of knowledge. Students must define indicators that can clearly display and demonstrate change versus progress.

Students can view change and progress through the lens of invention and innovation, respectively.

The risk loving entrepreneur, who may or may not be the inventor. This innovator is the inspirational leader instrumental in channelizing the specialized skills of team members, setting achievable goals, resolving conflicts and improvising ideas to make an invention market friendly. For the leader emotion, imagination, and sense perception are predominant influences in making an educated guess or conjecture on the acceptance of the progress by the society. Instead of massive restructuring or inviting investments, an intuitive leader infuses some simple distinctive streaks and breaks the ice by disregarding pecking order, uses intelligent multipliers to gauge the success in the existing setup.

Let’s analyse the aspects through some AOKs.

The distinction in Human Sciences

Human science is vividly studied through emotions however emotions are typical feelings who we naturally consult when we make decisions. In the field of management, various management theories have been devised using emotions as fundamental element and source of knowledge. Across all hierarchy, jobs, positions held and 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 DNA model described how making progress in meaningful work elevates emotions and motivation

Here is a food for thought. Can Information technology and artificial intelligence be the driving force for change? Have we ever discarded a well progressed technology to change or adopt a new one?

  • Is your favourite iPhone a great invention or innovation?
  • Does it involve ideating a new ecosystem of multimedia aesthetics, novel applications, new mode of telecommunications or has it assembled prior gadget features and functions under one roof?

Distinction in Arts

Arts has assisted the change in culture and emotions over a period of time however, in what ways it has progressed? Can we say that it has propelled the social values and ethical stance? If yes, how can we distinguish them?

We know that art existed even thousands of years ago and has its nature of aestheticism progressed or change? Can we distinguish the arts between the time period and the culture we have been brought up in?

Students must clarify or a stand for and against change versus progress. Is it the style of an artist that has been influential for the future artists’? The topic allows us to dissect the arts as we have time travelled. The change and progress seems overlapping.

The differentiation between change and progress is visible at varying degree in different areas of knowledge.

Check out for more details on Title 2

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