Theory of Knowledge

First Lesson

The Book

• Keep it at home for 2 years (unless told specifically to bring it in)

• Keep it safe and neat• You will have to pay for a new

one if it cannot be handed over to next set of students

• Not designed to be the basis for our lessons

• Not designed to be the complete course

• ToK course is not content-driven

• It is a ‘Reader’ – homework may be based around it

Exercise Book

• Bring to every lesson

• For writing down ideas, group work, definitions, thoughts

• When homework requires writing, do it in the exercise book

• Draw a line under the last work and write the date

What is ToK?

Two basic questions

1. What do I know?– What factors determine what I know?

2. How do I know it?

This lesson

• Grounds for Belief

• What is Knowledge?

• You and your knowledge

What grounds for belief do we have that it is orange juice inside the carton?

Without opening the carton

Next:Group your grounds for belief into 3 or 4 groups

What grounds for belief do we have that the newspaper article is true?

Pupils told they have a 'right' to a good sex life: That's the advice for youngsters from the NHS

Daily Mail – 12th July 2009

“An innovative new booklet is for those who work with young people and looks at why raising the issue of sexual pleasure in this work contributes to positive health outcomes. It also gives tips and ideas on how to raise the issue with groups of young people and individuals.”

This lesson

Grounds for Belief

• What is Knowledge?

• You and your knowledge

What is knowledge?

• I know that 2+2=4• I know that the earth is flat• I know that I would hate to live in London• I know my name• I know how to swim• I know there is a God• I know Santa Claus does not exist• I know Santa Claus does exist

What is knowledge?

Knowledge is

“true belief”

What is knowledge?

One night my watch broke at 11:51, but I did not realise it. I was asleep at the time, and when I woke up I just put my watch on without looking at it. The next time I looked at my watch, it was, by chance, 11:51. I believed it was 11:51, and it was, in fact, 11:51. So did I know it? If not, why not?

What is knowledge?

Imagine, in the Middle Ages, a scholar called Daniel claimed that the earth was round, not flat.

When asked to justify his belief, Daniel explained that because our feet are curved at the bottom, this must because the earth is round and our feet become moulded to it when we are children and walk around without shoes.

Does Daniel know the earth is round?

What is knowledge?

Knowledge is

“justified true belief”

Belief based on grounds which are adequate and true

Thought Experiment: Cow in the Field

Farmer Field is concerned about his prize cow, Daisy.

In fact, he is so concerned that when his dairyman tells him that Daisy is in the field, happily grazing, he says he needs to know for certain. He doesn't want merely to have a 99 percent probability that Daisy is safe, he wants to be able to say that he knows Daisy is safe.

Daisy, the prize cow

Thought Experiment: Cow in the Field

Farmer Field goes out to the field and standing by the gate sees in the distance, behind some trees, a white and black shape that he recognizes as his favourite cow.

He goes back to the dairy and tells his friend that he knows Daisy is in the field.

Yet, at this point, does Farmer Field know it?

Daisy, the prize cow

Thought Experiment: Cow in the Field

The dairyman says he will check too, and goes to

the field. There he finds Daisy, having a nap in a

hollow, behind a bush, well out of sight of the

gate. He also spots a large piece of black and

white paper that has got caught in a tree.

Daisy is in the field, as Farmer Field thought.

But was he right to say that he knew she was?

Daisy, the prize cow

Knowledge is

“justified true belief”

May not be the best definition, but a good working

definition

Write in exercise book

This lesson

Grounds for BeliefWhat is Knowledge?

• You and your knowledge

What do you want to know?

• Make a list of five things that you do not know at the moment, but would like to know– They can be ‘big questions’ as well a

mundane questions

Mr Grant’s list1. Is there life out there?2. How much money do I have in my bank account?3. What is the secret to eternal life?4. What is a good recipe for chocolate muffins?5. How do I balance work and life?

What do you want to know?

• Schooling?

• Other forms of authority (e.g. books, films etc.)

• Experience?

• Observation?• Reasoning?• Practice?• Religious means?• Any other means?

Which item on your list could you acquire through:

Which item on your list will you:

• Never know?

• Probably never know?

• Probably know at some point?

• Definitely know at some point?

This lesson

Grounds for BeliefWhat is Knowledge?You and your knowledge