ToK Presentation Article in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper on 19 th September 2012

ToK Presentation Real-life situation Article in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper on 26 th September

ToK Presentation Real-life situation Questions raised: How sensible is it to believe without carefully examining the evidence? What is the difference between ‘knowing that’ and ‘knowing why’? Is it necessary to accept some things as ‘true’? How are we affected by such knowledge claims? What evidence should we trust, and why?

ToK Presentation Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?) Discuss looking at: Arts History Human Sciences Natural Sciences

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso 1907Fountain by Marcel Duchamp 1917 “…one of the most important canvasses of the twentieth century…” Dr. Beth Harris ”…seminal in the early development of both cubism and modern art…” Wikipedia ”…an icon of twentieth-century art…” Tate Gallery “… the most important artwork of the 20th century…” The Economist ToK Presentation The Arts Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?)

Nanking Massacre (‘The Rape of Nanking’) 1937‘Bloody Sunday’ - Derry, Northern Ireland, 1972 ToK Presentation History Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?)

Photograph of an alleged UFO taken in New Jersey, taken on July 31, 1952 Photograph of Neil Armstrong on the moon July 20, 1969 ToK Presentation Human Sciences Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?)

ToK Presentation Natural Sciences Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?) Photograph of the Carina Nebula – 6,500–10,000 light years from Earth Structure of Matter University of Toronto

ToK Presentation Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?) If we haven’t seen it, heard it, smelled it, touched it or tasted it – then we have had to accept it on authority

ToK Presentation Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?) We are more likely to accept something as true if we have confidence in the methods and motives of those who make the claim

ToK Presentation Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?) Knowledge by Authority is necessary and inevitable, but we should retain a degree of skepticism “Skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found.” [Miguel de Unamuno, "Essays and Soliloquies," 1924]

ToK Presentation Real-life situation Article in ‘The Guardian’ newspaper on 26 th September Knowledge Issue To what extent is what we know shaped by authority? (What evidence should we trust, and why?) Conclusion…