knowledge
Name ONE way humans can acquire knowledge.
Through experience, observation, reasoning, or education.
What is a “good reason” for accepting a claim?
A reason that is reliable, relevant, and supported by evidence.
What does “justification” mean in TOK?
The reasons or evidence that support why we believe a claim is true.
What does “rational” mean?
Based on logic, reason, and evidence.
What is perception?
The way we interpret information received through our senses.
if you touch a hot stove and learn that it is hot, what helped you gain this knowledge?
Personal experience.
Is “I feel like it is true” always a good reason?
No. Feelings can be useful, but they do not necessarily prove that a claim is true.
Name five methods of justification from our TOK question.
Intuition, evidence, reasoning, consensus, and authority.
Which philosopher is strongly associated with rationalism?
René Descartes.
Can our expectations affect what we see?
Yes. We often interpret things according to what we already expect.
What is the difference between learning something yourself and being told it by someone else?
Learning it yourself may come from experience, while being told comes from testimony or authority
Which is a stronger reason: “Everyone says it” or “There is reliable evidence”?
Reliable evidence.
is evidence generally more convincing than intuition?
Usually, yes, because evidence can be examined and tested. However, the quality of the evidence matters.
Does all knowledge have to come from logical reasoning?
No. Knowledge can also come from experience, perception, intuition, and other sources.
Why can two people look at the same thing but interpret it differently?
Their experiences, expectations, assumptions, and perspectives may be different.
Can we gain knowledge without directly experiencing something?
Yes. We can learn from other people, books, teachers, experiments, and evidence.
why isn't popularity always a good reason to believe something?
Because many people can believe something that is still false.
Can authority ever be a good source of knowledge?
Yes. For example, we may trust a qualified doctor because of their education and expertise.
Why is rational thinking important when evaluating knowledge?
It helps us test claims, evaluate evidence, and identify mistakes.
A person expects to see their friend in a crowd, so they think they see them. What influenced their perception?
Their expectation and assumption.
Why might two people acquire different knowledge from the same experience?
Because they may have different background knowledge, expectations, perspectives, and interpretations.
Give one example of a claim with a strong justification.
“Water freezes at 0°C under standard atmospheric pressure” because it is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments.
Are intuition, evidence, reasoning, consensus, and authority equally convincing?
No. Their reliability depends on the situation and the quality of the justification.
Give an example where knowledge might begin with intuition but later need rational justification.
You may intuitively feel that a friend is upset, but you could examine their behavior and ask them to confirm whether your assumption is correct.
Why can expectations be both useful and dangerous?
They help us quickly interpret information, but they can also cause bias and incorrect assumptions.