ToK prep - lesson 1: What is knowledge?

• Filosofie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Welcome to

Theory of Knowledge

the prequel

• preparation for TOK
• core subject in DP
• about big questions
• not philosophy, but not not philosophy 

Sorry, what?

Sorry, what?

How do we know, 

what we know?

Sorry, what?

How do we know, 

what we know?

• Getting yourself acquainted with the type of questions and thinking that is central to TOK
• challenging, thought-provoking and empowering
• reflective, knowledgeable, thinker
• transfer skills, reflection skills

Knowledge = power

knowledge of knowledge = even better

What will we be doing?

• thinking about and discussing knowledge
• connecting this to your own world and experiences
• and to communities of knowers and scientific thinking
• no homework
• small exhibition at the end

What will we be doing?

The plan

les 1	les 2	les 3	les 4	les 5	les 6
What is knowledge?	Reasons to doubt	The power of words	Science as a way to certainty?	Connected with communities	The exhibition

Let's start!

write down five things you know 

The knowledge-line

absolute certainty

?

Knowledge questions

• Is absolute certainty necessary to call something knowledge?
• Are there different justifications for calling something knowledge?
• Is every justification just as good? What makes a justification adequate?

Write down 1 to 6. 

Apply the justification noted for the claim: 

Social media has a negative effect on health.

The how-do-you-know

1. Personal experience
   
2. Expert testimony
   
3. Data
   
4. Logic
   
5. Authority
   
6. Social consensus

Which source felt strongest?

Which was weakest?

Did everyone trust the same justification equally?

Knowledge & certainty

TOK is about critical scrutiny of what we know. But we weren't the first to ask these questions....

Is there absolute certainty?

         René Descartes and the evil demon thought experiment

Descartes lived from 1596-1650

Quick task

5. Concrete en herkenbare voorbeelden

De docent maakt gebruik van praktische, herkenbare voorbeelden die aansluiten bij de Global Context, waardoor leerlingen deze kunnen relateren aan hun eigen leefwereld en ervaringen. De docent doet hierbij een beroep op dual coding. Door het visuele en het verbale te combineren vergroot de docent de kans dat lesstof beter bij de leerlingen blijft beklijven.

Quick task

5. Concrete en herkenbare voorbeelden

De docent maakt gebruik van praktische, herkenbare voorbeelden die aansluiten bij de Global Context, waardoor leerlingen deze kunnen relateren aan hun eigen leefwereld en ervaringen. De docent doet hierbij een beroep op dual coding. Door het visuele en het verbale te combineren vergroot de docent de kans dat lesstof beter bij de leerlingen blijft beklijven.

Journal reflections

TOK - lesson 1: What is knowledge?

1. Formulate one sentence on what TOK is about
2. Write down one new insight you got this lesson
3. Formulate one question about something you'd like to dive in deeper or get to know more about

Formulate one sentence on what TOK is about.

Write down one new insight you got this lesson.

Formulate one question about something you'd like to dive in deeper or get to know more about.