TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important?

2. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? What have you heard about the situation at UWC Li Po Chun?

4. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? What have you heard about the situation at UWC Li Po Chun? • Did you sign the online document? • Why?

5. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? What do you know about the situation at UWC Li PO Chun? • Some questions…. • What is the legal situation in HK for same-sex couples and their children? • What efforts have been made in the past to resolve this issue? • What has been the position of the board? • What pressures has the head been under? • What could have happened in terms of UWCLPC funding if the school/board had acted differently?

6. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? Some key words….. Fact Assumptions Opinion Prejudice Knowledge Belief Information Evidence

7. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? What have you heard about ToK? What do you know about ToK?

8. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? A short history…

9. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? 1960’s

10. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? The IB Mission Statement: The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect

11. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? • ToK • A keystone academic course unifying the IB diploma, providing a foundation for all diploma subjects

12. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? Theory of Knowledge Diagram Mathematics Ways of Knowing Natural Sciences Sense Perception Ethics Reason Knower(s) Emotion Areas of Knowledge Human Sciences Language Arts History

13. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? • ToKorTaK?

14. Why is it important? • “Information is acquired by being told, whereas knowledge can be acquired by thinking” Fritz Malchup • “The greatest obstacle to progress is not the absence of knowledge, but the illusion of knowledge” Daniel Boorstin • “By doubting we are led to enquire, and by enquiry we perceive the truth” Peter Abelard TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important?

15. An Introduction to Critical Thinking by QualiaSoup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg)

16. Give someone a fish and they’ll eat that day

17. Give someone a fish and they’ll eat that day Teach them how to catch a fish and they’ll never go hungry

18. LEARNING SKILLS Dependence Self-reliance

19. … and it may lead to the solving of that, and similar problems Memorize the solution to a problem … Solution LEARNING SKILLS Self-reliance

20. … can provide techniques to solve a multitude of unfamiliar problems improving your critical thinking … Self-reliance

21. Critical thinking Analyzing Conceptualising Defining Examining Inferring Listening Questioning Reasoning Synthesising evaluating information in a disciplined way & evaluating our thoughts help us refine our thought processes • think and assess information more comprehensively • more able to identify and reject false ideas /ideologies Self-reliance

22. Critical thinking …isn’t just ‘thinking a lot’ (How?) Position X Who?

23. Critical thinking …isn’t just ‘thinking a lot’ (How?) Thinking Critically Who? Position X flaws & biases flaws & biases We need to be aware of the flaws and biases in our thinking …

24. … we must want to be betterat thinking to pinpoint and minimize biasing influence from CultureandUpbringing to seek out and be guided by Knowledgeand Evidence that fits with reality.....

25. …even if it refutes our cherished beliefs beliefs if shown to be unfounded CHANGE of POSITION= appropriate response

26. Critical thinkers exhibit - Curiosity Perspective Knowledge Willing to do the work required to keep themselves properly informed

27. What would upset Evolutionary theory? Explains nothing Untestable Many things. For instance, a Paleozoic panda…. The crops failed because the Sun God is angry

28. Critical thinking embraces Scepticism doubting suspension of judgement indiscriminate rejection of ideas CLAIM reasoning assumptions biases reasoning

29. reasoning should be based in sound, consistent logic not on emotions / social pressure Truth of factual claims is not determined by: • the emotion that accompanies them OR • the fact that they may be believed • by certain social groups

30. Reason has no value reasoning should be based in sound, consistent logic not on emotions / social pressure Truth of factual claims is not determined by: the emotion that accompanies them OR the fact that they may be believed by certain social groups

31. Reason has no value because it’s just a human concept

32. Reason has no value Because it’s just a human concept Using the very thing you are dismissing in order to construct a case against it REASON

33. Reason has no value Because it’s just a human concept Using the very thing you are dismissing in order to construct a case against it REASON

34. These aren’t ripe Moving to Australia Pros Cons REASONis intrinsic to our decisions and judgments

35. These aren’t ripe Moving to Australia Pros Cons What will increase our understanding? Dismissing reason? Or looking honestly at our flaws?

36. unwillingness to listen La intellectual arrogance intellectual laziness lack of respect for reason lack of respect for evidence will sabotage one’s capacity for critical thought What will increase our understanding? Dismissing reason? Or looking honestly at our flaws?

37. BLACK & WHITE THINKING

38. FALSE DICHOTOMY

39. Those who accept evolution Theists

40. Those who accept evolution Theists who accept evolution Theists

41. Those who accept evolution If we think in false dichotomies we will draw false conclusions Theists who accept evolution Theists

42. If OPTION A is false OPTION B MUST be true If we think in false dichotomies we will draw false conclusions If one doesn’t hold ATTITUDE X One MUST hold ATTITUDE Y

43. BLACK & WHITE THINKING often reflects underlying intolerance of ambiguity leaping to flawed conclusions because you can’t tolerate the ambiguity of not knowing TRUTH CURIOSITY COMFORT

44. Qualities of a Critical Thinker • can handle uncertainty • prefers to be aware of their areas of ignorance • can wait for valid evidence • can wait for evidence-based answers

45. Cr t calThnkng intellectual independence

46. Cr t calThnkng • Moves us away from • rash conclusions • mystification • reluctance to question • - received wisdom • - authority • - tradition • Moves us towards • intellectual discipline • clear expression of ideas • acceptance of personal responsibility for our own thinking

47. better equipped to create more profoundly effective solutions to the challenges we face in living, and living together eager to acquire and apply the best knowledge and reason in all fields willing to acknowledge and correct flaws in their own thinking

48. When we teach, encourage and practice critical thinking we empower individual lives and invest in our collective future

49. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? • Critical Thinking • One objective of ToK is to help students “make sense of what they encounter”, by learning to: • critically examine the reliability of sources of knowledge • distinguish between good and poor reasoning • spot intentional or accidental bias • identify inconsistencies

50. TaK - What is Theory of Knowledge and why is it important? “The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge” Thomas Berger