“The
only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of
wonder” (Gaarder
10).
Theory of Knowledge
is an interdisciplinary course that asks students to reflect on
what they know and how they know it. Students engage in daily
discussions, prepare presentations relevant to course content,
and write regularly while keeping a journal of their work. Journals
will be checked on a rotating basis.
Resources
Man Is the Measure—Reuben
Abel
The World Is Flat—Thomas Friedman
Theory of Knowledge: Diploma Programme Guide—International
Baccalaureate Organization
Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma—Richard
van de Lagemaat
Other readings from a variety of disciplines selected by teachers
and students
Introduction
to Knowledge
“Good-by
and Hello” (Juster 253).
8/28-9/1—Knowers and Knowing, constructing a model of knowledge
9/5-9/8—Knowers and Knowing
Ways of Knowing/Problems
of Knowledge/Constructing an Argument
“When
we dream, we feel we are experiencing reality. What separates
our waking feelings from our dream feelings?” (Gaarder
238).
9/11-9/15—Perception—Writing Assignment #1 due 9/13
9/18-9/22—Perception—Perception oral presentations
and self-evaluations (TK—SER) due
“The
basic problem is to clarify the relation of words to things”
(Abel 66).
9/25-9/29—Language
10/3-10/6—Language—Language oral presentations and
self-evaluations (TK—SER) due
“Knowing
what anger is. . . is not the same as being angry”
(Abel 21).
10/9-10/13—Emotion—Writing Assignment #2 due
10/16-10/19—Emotion—Emotion oral presentations and
self-evaluations (TK—SER) due
“Does
the world consist of real things or are we encircled by the mind?”
(Gaarder 284).
10/23-10/27—Reason
10/30-11/3—Reason—Prescribed Title Overview/Introduction
Areas of Knowledge
“When
do we attain certainty?” (Abel 42)
During these units, students will make group oral presentations
as their internal assessments for the course. Due dates will be
assigned according to the topic chosen. One week after the student
completes his/her presentation, he/she must hand in a self-evaluation
(TK—SER) of the presentation.
“A
7 is a 7 anywhere in the world” (Juster 199).
11/6-11/10—Mathematics—Writing Assignment #3 due (deconstructing
a prescribed title prompt)
11/13-11/17—Mathematics—Oral topics 5 & 6
“Of
course, all the concepts of science are human creations”
(Abel 130).
11/20-11/22—Natural Sciences—Oral topic 4—Writing
assignment #4 due (outlining a prescribed title)
11/27-12/1—Natural Sciences—Oral topics 1 & 8
“Physicists
have a subject matter, but sociologists study only methods”
(Poincaré, qtd. in Abel 108).
12/4-12/8—Human Sciences—Oral topic 11—Writing
assignment #5 (drafting a prescribed title paragraph)
12/11-12/15—Human Sciences—Oral topics 7 & 2
“History
is a construct. . . . Any point of entry is possible and all choices
are arbitrary” (Atwood The Robber Bride
4).
12/18-12/22—History—Oral topic 9 & 10
1/2-1/5—History—Oral topic 3—First draft of
prescribed title due*
“FOR
MILO, WHO NOW KNOWS THE WAY” (Juster 254).
1/8-1/11— Reflection and review of Areas of Knowledge—Reflection
Letter due (counts as the final exam grade).
*The Prescribed title
is a required IB external assessment. Students must turn in the
Prescribed Title draft in order to complete the course successfully.
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