What is Knowledge? A definition: Knowledge…

3. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion • What is Knowledge? • A definition: Knowledge… • the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time; • certain understanding (as opposed to opinion)

4. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion • Different kinds of Knowledge • Knowing How (Skills) … • To swim • To dance • To solve maths problems • etc… • Knowing That (Information)… • It is cold • 2+2=4 • Obama is US President • etc… ToK is most concerned with “Knowing that….”

5. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Different kinds of Knowledge *Tacit: understood without being openly expressed *Articulated: can be clearly expressed in words

6. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Beliefs Reality

7. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Beliefs Reality Knowledge Knowledge = justified, true belief

8. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion • Knowledge is not static – • it has a history and changes over time. • Examples? • What guarantee is there that our current understanding is correct? • What of our current ‘shared knowledge’ will stand the test of time?

9. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion • Knowledge is true belief that has been arrived at by a ‘reliable process’ (by observation, experiment, reasoning etc). • Not just ‘true for me’, but ‘true for all’ • (Validity of the justification – ‘poor, unreliable justification’ or ‘excellent, reliable justification’ leading to ‘weaker’ or ‘stronger’ forms of knowledge) • Knowledge = justified, true belief Belief-knowledge continuum +10 | Certain -10 | Impossible -5 | Unlikely 0 | Possible +5 | Probable -------------- Belief Knowledge Doubt

10. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Christopher Columbus arrived America in 1492 Human beings are descended from apes Murder is wrong Aliens have visited earth at some time in its history All metals expand when heated Human beings have an immortal soul If A is bigger than B and B is bigger than C, then A is bigger than C Belief-knowledge continuum +10 | Certain -10 | Impossible -5 | Unlikely 0 | Possible +5 | Probable -------------- Belief Knowledge Doubt

11. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Easy to convince Impossible to convince

12. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Impossible to convince Easy to convince Will believe almost anything…

13. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion

14. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Easy to convince Impossible to convince Will believe almost nothing…

15. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion

16. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Good Judgement • We need to find a balance between being open to new ideas that challenge our ways of thinking, • while keeping in mind than human beings are sometimes willing to believe strange things on the basis of little evidence

18. Extras

19. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion • The Problem of Certainty • How can you be certain that: • The sky is blue? • Neil Armstrong walked on the moon? • Snow is cold?

20. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion Origins of Knowledge observation etc Truth Tests thought family television internet “What do I know?” “What can I know?” “What should I believe?” “How can I be sure?” books intuition teachers religion friends dreams etc feelings experience

21. TaK – Knowledge, Belief & Opinion • Different kinds of Knowledge • Different personal characteristics and experiences affect what people know. • There are different levels of knowledge: • A superficial grasp • A good understanding • A complete mastery • Examples?