Understanding Knowledge questions

Knowledge questions (1) When considering the support and evidence for a specific knowledge claim, e.g., “This painting is by Van Gogh”, we usually consider specific, claim-centered questions, e.g., “Is the color palette like the one Van Gogh used?” or “How is the paint applied to the canvass?” etc. These specific questions can give rise to more general questions regarding how knowledge is acquired, e.g., “What role do reason and perception play in identifying a work of visual art?”

Knowledge questions (2) Knowledge questions begin in real-life situations, e.g., magazine article on science and religion, attending a debate on faith vs. science, a thought one might entertain while studying biology As individuals reflect on the ideas engendered in this fashion, various ways of framing some of the questions involved come to mind Knowledge questions emerge as individuals move, in their thinking, from specific, subject-and-claim-centered questions to more general questions about knowledge itself and how it is acquired

Ladder of Abstraction (3) Real-life situation (RLS) stated A description of a situation; subject/topic: Not a KQ Narrow question; implicitly about knowledge: Poor KQ Open-ended question; about knowledge only in the context of the RLS: Intermediate KQ Open-ended question; explicitly about knowledge; general, being stated in terms of TOK vocabulary/concepts: Good KQ

Knowledge questions (3) Newspaper article/book review Physics and God (specific/concrete) How do Christians come to their beliefs? (poor) Are the beliefs of Christianity reasonable? (intermediate) To what extent can reason be used to justify religious beliefs? (good)

TOK Concepts TOK concepts can be found throughout the TOK Subject Guide. TOK concepts include the AOKs and WOKs. Many other notions found throughout the Guide centering on knowledge, knowing, acquiring knowledge and problems associated with knowledge are TOK concepts. Examples include: belief, certainty, truth, culture, evidence, experience, explanation, interpretation, intuition, authority, values, proof

Sorting KQs 2. Why do optical illusions happen? Put the following in order from the RLS to a good KQ: 1. What can we learn from optical illusions? 2. Why do optical illusions happen? 3. What, if anything, do optical illusions tell us about sense perception and truth? 4. The vase/face optical illusion 5. Optical illusions

Atomic Bomb

Atomic Bomb - KQs Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb during WWII The morality of military strategy Was using the bomb a morally permissible option? How can we determine if wartime decisions were morally right? How, if at all, can ethical judgements in history be established?

Knowledge questions In Activity 2, you and your group will need to: Consider carefully the RLS provided Identify one or more ways in which knowledge is implicated in the RLS Using the model provided in Understanding Knowledge questions develop a “ladder” of questions beginning with your RLS and leading to one (or more) good knowledge question(s). In point form indicate how might you handle the KI identified