1. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE The Introduction 1

2.  ABOUT THE SUBJECT  THE main question in TOK is ‘How do you know?’.  TOK course encourages you to think critically about subjects you are studying rather than passively accepting what you are taught.  Critical thinking involves: Asking good questions Using language with care & precision Supporting ideas with evidence Arguing coherently Making sound judgments  TOK is designed to help you to reflect on and further develop the thinking skills you have acquired in your other classes. 2

3. The Introduction  The main elements of the TOK course: 3

4. The Introduction 1. KNOWERS AND KNOWING  Since TOK is concerned with question ‘How do you know?’, we will spend some time talking about the nature of knowledge. We shall be asking questions:  What is knowledge?  How does knowledge differ from belief?  What is the difference between knowledge, information and wisdom?  Should we seek the truth at price, or are there some things it would be better not to know? 4

5. The Introduction 5 2. WAYS OF KNOWING  In TOK we recognize four ways of acquiring knowledge about the world: 1. Perception, 2. Language, 3. Reason and 4. Emotion.  Take anything that you claim to know and ask yourself how you know and you can trace it back to one of these four sources.

6. The Introduction 6 3. AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE  We will consider various AOK such as:  mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, history, arts, ethics and religion  In each AOK we will raise the question ‘How do you know?’, and consider the role played by WOKs in the subject in question.

7. The Introduction 7  Some of the BIG questions we will consider:  Why is mathematics so useful?  Does science prove things?  What makes human beings different?  Can the past be known?  Do we have free will?  Are there any universal values?  Is everyone selfish?  What is the purpose of art?  Does life have a meaning?