BQ1
What is the difference between “information” and “knowledge”?
Information is raw data, while knowledge is information that has been interpreted, understood, and justified.
Why is repetition important in scientific experiments?
Repetition shows that results are consistent and not due to chance.
Why is a good scientific explanation expected to be falsifiable?
Because if it cannot be tested or disproven, it cannot be meaningfully evaluated.
How can jargon help or hinder understanding?
Jargon can clarify meaning for experts but confuse non-specialists, limiting access to knowledge.
Why does measurement error limit what we can know in science?
Instruments have precision limits, causing unavoidable uncertainty in data.
Why is belief an important part of the “justified true belief” model of knowledge?
Because a person must accept a claim for it to count as knowledge; you can’t “know” something you don’t believe.
Why are controlled variables necessary in an experiment?
They ensure that only the independent variable affects the outcome, increasing reliability.
How does Occam’s razor help judge competing explanations?
It suggests choosing the simplest explanation that accounts for the evidence.
How can euphemisms change the way we perceive a situation?
Euphemisms soften or obscure reality, shifting emotional responses and judgments.
How does missing evidence create limits for historians?
Gaps in the record prevent historians from knowing the full story or confirming interpretations.
How does personal experience contribute to personal knowledge?
Personal experience provides firsthand evidence that shapes an individual's understanding, habits, and perspectives.
Why do historians often prefer primary sources?
Because they provide direct, contemporary evidence created at the time of the event.
Why might interpretations differ when explaining meaning in the arts?
Interpretations depend on the viewer’s experiences, emotions, and cultural background.
How might language influence the categories we use to organize the world?
Words direct attention to certain features and groupings, shaping how we classify objects and ideas.
How does cognitive bias limit knowledge?
Biases influence how we interpret evidence, sometimes leading us away from objective understanding.
Why might shared knowledge sometimes be more reliable than personal knowledge?
Shared knowledge is produced by communities, which allows for peer checking, collective expertise, and replication.
Why can small or unrepresentative samples be problematic in forming knowledge claims?
They may lead to inaccurate generalizations that don’t reflect the broader population.
Why is predictive power an important part of a good explanation in the social sciences?
If an explanation can predict future events or behaviours, it suggests that the underlying model is valid.
Why might translation lead to knowledge loss or distortion?
Because meanings and cultural nuances don’t always transfer cleanly between languages.
Why might some knowledge be fundamentally unknowable?
Human cognition and sensory systems have boundaries that may prevent us from accessing certain truths.
Why do some philosophers argue that knowledge cannot be fully defined by a single formula?
Because knowledge varies across contexts, cultures, and disciplines, making it difficult to fit into one universal model.
Why might different Areas of Knowledge use different
Each AOK has unique methods and goals, so what counts as strong evidence in science may not apply in the arts or ethics.
Why are unfalsifiable explanations considered weak in TOK?
Because they cannot be tested, challenged, or improved, so they do not support reliable knowledge.
How can the framing of a question influence the knowledge that is produced?
The wording can highlight certain assumptions or biases, shaping responses and interpretations.
How does uncertainty in complex systems (e.g., climate, economies) limit prediction?
Many interacting variables and unpredictable events make exact predictions impossible.