TOK: A Narrative

TOK: A NarrativeTheory of Knowledge a narrative 1. We can think of knowledge as simplified map of reality 2. We use knowledge to solve problems (even internal ones) 3. Knowledge can take many forms depending on the problem it is designed to solve 4. We can make a distinction between shared and personal knowledge 5. Most knowledge is shared knowledge 6. Much of this shared knowledge is organised into areas of knowledge 7. In order to examine these areas of knowledge, here is the knowledge framework. The framework specifies: scope, applications, concepts, methods, history; and the contributions of individuals 8. Within this framework, ways of knowing occupy a part in some of the sub-sections these can be useful in analyzing personal knowledge

ToK studies how knowledge is produced and how it is able to solve the problems that it was designed to solve. It deals in second order questions questions about knowledge rather than questions within a particular area of knowledge. These questions are called Knowledge Questions.

Maps as Representations of KnowledgeThe Map is Not the Territory

What types of Maps?GeographicalPoliticalSocio-EconomicTopographicSubwayLocators in MallsCity Maps

Knowledge is a Simplified Representation of a Complex WorldComplex Real World Simplified RepresentationTOK Knowledge Questions

Is there knowledge that mankind has lost?

Consider . . .Musical Instruments: Greek Aulos

Ancient Stained Glass Windows like this of Notre Dame

Consider . . .Architecture: Roman Cement

Languages: Meroitic (a Nubian language that is as yet untranslatable)

Roman Cement (used by Greeks and Romans) is much more effective at withstanding weathering and aging (like 2,000 plus years) whereas modern cement (Portland Cement) is lucky to last 50 years. Scientists have only recently figured out the secrets (as in 2013) and it is a much greener technology.Meroitic (also known as Kushitic): has been deciphered but it is impossible to translate into any meaning

Consider . .

The lost plays of EuripidesAbout 80% have been lost Right: A vellum codex fragment from the 4th and 5th centuries AD from his play Medea

(source: Wikipedia)

What evidence do we have that this knowledge once existed?Existing artifacts/constructionsIllustrationsReferences in existing texts

What made this knowledge vulnerable to loss?Overly specifiedLoss of peoplesLoss of need

What characteristics does comparable surviving knowledge share?

Six Conditions for Shared KnowledgeThere are shared problems that motivate the production of shared knowledge and an incentive for sharing the knowledge at all. The required knowledge exists in a form that CAN be transported over distance (and time)There are technologies that can TRANSPORT the knowledge over distance and timeThere are shared concepts and conventions that allow knowledge PRODUCED in one place to be UNDERSTOOD in anotherThere are shared METHODS for PRODUCING this shared knowledgeThere is some element of shared HISTORY that allows this knowledge to have a shared significance

Possible Groups for Shared Knowledge

Family groupsReligious groups Groups associated with particular academic fields such as mathematicians Groups associated with particular views within an academic field such as neo-classical economists Groups sharing a particular culture Groups sharing particular artistic knowledge such as sculptors Groups sharing particular interests such as fishing Political groups National groups Ethnic groups

Personal and Shared KnowledgeSHARED KNOWLEDGEKnowledge that CAN be shared survivesPURELY PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE Knowledge that cannot be shared (or is not shared for some reason)

Will Gadd: Ice Climber Niagara Falls

Questions to Consider:What does Will Gadd know that you and I do not know?Do you think his experiences of the water and its pounding, etc, count as knowledge?Where does this knowledge come from?

Interview with Will Gadd

15 min. long but could only watch the first 7 minutes or so to consider the following questions:What kind of knowledge is Gadd referring to at beginning? What are the consequences if he puts his knowledge to the test and gets it wrong?What WOKs does Gadd refer to with his imprint and even later? Could we have have the same? How could/might Gadd share his knowledge with the rest of the world? What is the relationship between shared and personal knowledge?

Some Examples of Personal KnowledgeSkills and abilities I gain through practice and habit (sports, music, art, crafts, languages, etc)Knowledge of/about myself, including my emotionsKnowledge about world around gained via experienceInternal maps of practiced sensing, e.g. expert wine tasters or tea-tasters, judges at competitionsKnowledge that could be shared but isnt for good reasons (e.g. Antonio Stradivari keeps his secret to protect his violin-business)

Characteristics of Shared KnowledgeImpersonal Shared Criteria for EvaluationSystematicMap like or Model likeCollective EndeavorSelf CheckingStrongly Language BasedPropositional KnowledgeGlobal (not local to one person)Can be analyzed using the Knowledge FrameworkProduces group perspective

Characteristics of Personal KnowledgeKnowledge by direct experienceKnowing how it feelsKnowledge of selfPersonal reflection is an important partCAN be map like but may be more story like (narrative)Experiential or Procedural knowledgeLess reliant on languageLocal to person (not global)Difficult to truly communicate to othersUses the Ways of KnowingProduces Personal Perspective