1. Theory of Knowledge

2. Take notes to answer these questions: What is the origin of our knowledge and how certain is it? What are the different types of knowledge?

3. Assessment Presentation (Teacher assessed)
Essay (1200 – 1600 words) (externally assessed)

4. What is knowledge?

5. You have 3 minutes to write down things that you “know”.
What do you know?
You have 3 minutes to write down things that you “know”.

6. What is knowledge?
Of the things you know, can you pick 3 things that you are certain of?

7. What is knowledge?
Can you choose three of the things you “know” that you are least certain of?

8. Belief/knowledge continuum
Unlikely Probable
Impossible Possible Certain
Expalin that your knowledge can be placed on this continuum. You could possibly get them to place their own “knowledge” on the line.

9. Where do we get our knowledge from?
Look at your list of things that you know”. Where and how did you get that knowledge?
They can work on this in groups.

10. How do you know?

11. The sky is blue?

12. Perception
Print his sheet out. Get them to count the leprechauns. Then cut the top half as shown and swap the top halfs – ONE MORE LEPRECHAUN! How?! How safe is our perception of truth?!

13. Perception

14. How many leprechauns?

15. Perception
Tractor Perspective Illusion - Optical Illusion Image Gallery #33

16. 1 + 1 = 2

17. 1 + 1 = 2?
In base 2, = 10
104
103
102
101
100
10-1
10-2
10-3 1 5 25 24 23 22 21 20
2-1
2-2
2-3

18. 1 + 1 = 2? + =
One pile of sand + one pile of sand = one pile of sand

19. I know I went for a walk yesterday
Can you trust your memory? Have you seen the Matrix?!

20. I know women are more emotional than men
Is this a knowledge statement?

21. I know I love my mother.
How?

22. I know that a lake is more beautiful than a sewage works
How?

23. I know the room is hot
How?

24. I know that Mozart was a great composer
How?

25. I know there is life after death
Could you?

26. I know there is a God
Good one this!

27. I know dogs are disgusting

28. “certainty” I think, therefore I am
Distinguishes knowledge from belief.
Truth without doubt.
Language
Perception
Reason
Emotion
I think, therefore I am 28

29. I know Santa Claus exists
“relativism”
No absolute objective truth
Knowledge is relative to the individual,
culture or society
I knew the Earth was flat
I know Santa Claus exists
This may be safer for ethics, politics & religion.
But what about maths and science? 29

30. “justified, true belief”
you must believe the knowledge statement
your belief in the knowledge statement has to be true
your true belief has to be justified. 30

31. “justified, true belief”
Requires:
Evidence – reasonable & positive evidence that supports & justifies belief.
Coherence – does this fit with our current understanding?
Can you see any problems
with these requirements? 31