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
Top Related