Ways of Knowing
The ways of knowing are the paths towards knowledge. It is very tempting to consider them separately, but in most cases it is a combination of some or all of the ways of knowing that leads to knowledge.
The above links provide information about each way of knowing from the current IBO TOK guide. There is also an explanation of the most fallacies you should know. An excellent introduction to the ways of knowing can also be found on the excellent theorysite http://www.theoryofknowledge.net/ways-of-knowing/index.php
The above links provide information about each way of knowing from the current IBO TOK guide. There is also an explanation of the most fallacies you should know. An excellent introduction to the ways of knowing can also be found on the excellent theorysite http://www.theoryofknowledge.net/ways-of-knowing/index.php
Truth and truth tests
Knowledge is frequently defined as 'justified true belief' and therefore truth is an important consideration in the search for knowledge.
Truth is one of the most challenging subjects in philosophy and one of the functions of the ways of knowing is to help lead us to the truth in as far as this is possible. For a detailed overview of this topic, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is recommended. Click here: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth/
When you examine how you know what you know, you will need to consider if the knowledge under consideration passes the truth tests. The theoryofknowledge.net website gives a clear definition of truth and four truth tests, the correspondence theory, the coherence theory, the consensus theory and the pragmatic theory. Find them here: http://www.theoryofknowledge.net/introduction/to-knowledge/what-is-truth.php
More detailed information about the coherence theory can once again be found at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy website at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth-coherence/
Even if you do not discuss truth tests in your presentation or essay, you should still use them to evaluate the information you are using. This is particularly useful for History Paper 1, the Historical Investigation and indeed, an Extended Essay in History.
Truth is one of the most challenging subjects in philosophy and one of the functions of the ways of knowing is to help lead us to the truth in as far as this is possible. For a detailed overview of this topic, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is recommended. Click here: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth/
When you examine how you know what you know, you will need to consider if the knowledge under consideration passes the truth tests. The theoryofknowledge.net website gives a clear definition of truth and four truth tests, the correspondence theory, the coherence theory, the consensus theory and the pragmatic theory. Find them here: http://www.theoryofknowledge.net/introduction/to-knowledge/what-is-truth.php
More detailed information about the coherence theory can once again be found at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy website at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth-coherence/
Even if you do not discuss truth tests in your presentation or essay, you should still use them to evaluate the information you are using. This is particularly useful for History Paper 1, the Historical Investigation and indeed, an Extended Essay in History.