“In gaining knowledge, each
area of knowledge uses a
network of ways of knowing.”
Discuss this statement with
reference to two areas of
knowledge_1
Thesis
Ways of knowing are
what provide us with the
necessary information
and understanding in
order to develop
knowledge within an area
of knowledge. Ways of
knowing interact with
each other to a very high
extent; therefore each
area of knowledge uses a
network of ways of
knowing in gaining
knowledge.
One way of Knowing is
not enough to get the
necessary information
and understanding to gain
knowledge.
By using different ways of
knowing, a deeper understading
within an area is gained. this is
because they provided different
perspectives and methods to
understand and gain knowlegde
Ways of knowing need
eachother. They become
stroger, more reliable and
effective when linked
with one another. This
means that, for example,
intuition alone is not as
effective in gaining
knowledgeas intuiton and
reason together
Central knowledge question
To what extent do ways of knowing
interact with eachother in order to build up
knowledge?
To what extent is a way of knowing more
important than the others to gain knowledge
within an area?
To what extent is the knowledge obtained
through different ways more relevant than
that obtained by one way of knowing?
Reasons i'm interested in the title
The title makes me analyze and reflect the ways in
which we gain knowledge within specific areas of
knowledge. This is interesting as many questios arise:
do WoK’s really interact with eachother? Is there any
AoK that uses only one WoK to gain knowledge?...
The title allows me to show my
understanding of TOK and explore
knowledge through various perspectives
and lenses. As it asks me to focus in 2
specific areas of knowledge, it allows me to
be specific and evaluate each one of them
thoroughly
This title is interesting as it is asking us to link together
important aspects of TOK (ways of knowing) in order to
show their importance within an area of knowledge. I
think it is very interesting to think about ways of knowing;
their relationship with each other and with the different
areas. This is because when we understand this we can
understand how is it that we gain knowledge.
Areas of knowledge
The arts
The arts are an area of knowledge based on creative skill. This suggests
that it is a more subjective area of knowledge; that knowledge for the
arts is not very specific and cannot be classified as right or wrong. This
means that the arts use emotion and imagination as directly influential
ways of knowing. However, reason is also essential for an artwork to be
effective, due to the fact that an artist needs to support his creative
process. Moreover, language is used in the arts to communicate ideas
and concepts. Having this said, the arts are an area of knowledge that
uses a network of different ways of knowing in order to gain
knowledge.
Ways of knowing
Reason • Intuition • Emotion
• Language • Memory
Mathematics
Mathematics is a very rational area of knowledge. It is based on
absolute objectivity and only works if every element and component
is logic with each other. However, mathematic are used in many
other fields such as design, medicine and social sciences. This means
that reason is not enough in order to get sufficient knowledge within
this area. Intuition, memory and language are also extremely
effective in allowing us to gain knowledge. Mathematics is also
believes to be the language of the universe, hence language as a WoK
is directly related to this
for arts & math
Possible counter arguments
It is possible to say that emotion and
imagination are enough ways to gain
knowledge in the arts. This depends no
only on the artwork created, but on the
type of art (i.e. Music, visual arts,
drama). It is possible that one art needs
more WoK’s than the other, depending
on their different aims. It is not
necessary to have historical knowledge
or knowledge of the artistic techniques
in a piece (using reason) to understand
and connect with it. This suggests that a
network of ways of knowing is not
completely necessary in order to gain
knowledge within the arts.
Arguing that a network of ways of knowing is needed in mathematics
can be wrong. Sometimes, reason is enough to get the necessary
information and understanding to gain knowledge. If a lot of logic and
reasoning is applied, an individual can connect with and understand
mathematics. It is also important to question if humans created
mathematics or if they existed and were discovered. This is because if
they existed, it was by reasoning that humans discovered them and
developed them. In mathematics, things are right or wrong; black or
white; there are no gray spaces. This suggests that some WoKs don’t
apply here, such as emotion.
Ways of knowing interact with each other
only to a certain extent. -They don't all
interact with each other. -sometimes it is
possible to gain knowledge only with one
WoK. -Sometimes it it not necessary to
gain a deep knowledge, hence one WoK is
enough