TOK: Ways of Knowing Sense Perception

We perceive the world through our 5 senses. Our 5 senses are: Sight Sight Hearing Hearing Touch Touch Smell Smell Taste Taste

Sense Perception is an important dimension of our understanding of the World  The channel of communication between ourselves and the outside world  Its function and scope should be examined and critically evaluated

There are differing views on the role of our five senses towards the acquisition of knowledge Common-Sense Realism : Perception is a passive and relatively straightforward process which gives us an accurate picture of reality Common-Sense Realism : Perception is a passive and relatively straightforward process which gives us an accurate picture of reality

Common Sense Realism The way we perceive the world mirrors the way the world is

Sense perception is the active, selective and interpretive process of recording or becoming conscious of the external world

Perception can be thought of consisting of two distinct parts Perception can be thought of consisting of two distinct parts Sensation: The part provided by the world around us Sensation: The part provided by the world around us Interpretation: The part provided by our minds Interpretation: The part provided by our minds

Our experience of the world is affected not only by what is ‘out there’ but also by our sense organs AND our minds

Questions to Discuss 1. To what extent do our senses give us knowledge of the world as it really is? 2. What role does what we expect to see, or are used to seeing, play in what we observe? 3. What is meant by the saying ‘knowledge is the true organ of sight, not the eyes’? 4. Do you think perception is a more important source of knowledge in some subjects rather than others?