Transcript CHAPTER 1
Chapter 1 The problem of knowledge © Cambridge University Press 2011 Value judgements • Our personal mental map of reality determines what we perceive to be: – true/false – reasonable/unreasonable – right/wrong. • These are value judgements or opinions. • TOK applies critical analysis to highlight the limitations of how we think about things. © Cambridge University Press 2011 The paradox of cartography • Mercator Projection = traditional world map – Poles look bigger. – Northern hemisphere is at the top so looks more important. – Centred on Europe/Africa. • Hobo-Dyer Equal Area Projection – – – – Relative land sizes are more accurate. Southern hemisphere is at the top. Centred on Pacific. Changes perception of the importance of countries. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Maps: conclusion • • • All maps distort reality. The map is not the territory; it is just an attempt to represent it. Distortion on maps can distort other views/opinions/decisions. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Certainty: discussion Many ‘facts’ may be questionable, e.g.: • Did Neil Armstrong land on the moon? • Strawberries are red. • If a > b and b > c then a > c. • Murder is wrong. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Ways of knowing • • • • Perception Language Emotion Reason © Cambridge University Press 2011 1 Perception • Can our senses deceive us? • Are everyone’s senses the same? © Cambridge University Press 2011 2 Language • How do we know that what we find out in words is true? • Are other people reliable sources of knowledge? © Cambridge University Press 2011 3 Emotion • Intuition/gut feeling is not always 100% reliable. © Cambridge University Press 2011 4 Reason • Lots of people struggle with logic, especially mathematical logic. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Radical doubt • Is life just a dream? © Cambridge University Press 2011 Relativism The relativist argument: • There is no absolute truth, so truth may be considered relative to culture or individuals. • What is true for some people is false for others. • Relativism allows both views to be valid. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Relativism: the counter-argument • Truth can be considered to be what someone really believes. • However, belief does not make something really true. • For example, Santa Claus does not actually exist even if you really believe in him. • This means that relativism cannot be true. (Unless you argue that it is true for people who believe in it!) © Cambridge University Press 2011 What should we believe? • There is a problem with the word ‘should’, which implies subjective judgement. • TOK is more interested in how you believe. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Judgement, gullibility, scepticism The role of judgement • Assess evidence → provisional conclusion. The danger of gullibility • At what point do you start questioning what you read/hear? The danger of scepticism • May mean you close your mind to new ideas if they do not agree with currently accepted theories. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Reasonable knowledge • There are two criteria for deciding whether a claim is reasonable: – evidence – coherence. © Cambridge University Press 2011 1 Evidence • Is there any supporting evidence? • The fact that you cannot prove something is not true does not show that it is true. • Thinking that it does make it true = argument ad ignorantiam. • Confirmation bias: people often only notice evidence that supports their beliefs. © Cambridge University Press 2011 2 Coherence • Does the claim contradict current understanding? • The more it contradicts, the stronger the evidence needed to support it. • Carl Sagan (astronomer, 1934–96): ‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.’ © Cambridge University Press 2011 Does it really matter what we believe? • Socrates (470–399 BCE): ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ • van de Lagemaat (Coursebook author): ‘If you never examine your beliefs you end up leading a life that is not genuinely your own.’ • Voltaire (philosopher, 1694–1778): ‘People who believe absurdities will commit atrocities.’ (Question the ‘will’!) • Beliefs affect actions and can have serious consequences. © Cambridge University Press 2011 Conclusion • A problem of knowledge (knowledge issues) exists. • What we believe we know may be questionable. © Cambridge University Press 2011