Theory of Knowledge has many terminologies and concepts that take time to understand. However, you don’t have to study and memorize all the IB TOK vocabulary words only a few of them are applicable to the assessment components.
So, in this guide, we’ve put together a list of only the most relevant TOK vocabularies that you need to be familiar with to pass your Theory of Knowledge Essay and Theory of Knowledge Exhibition.
To be clear, this guide contains only the most relevant terms you need to know about, some with links to related posts where you can learn more about the respective TOK subject.
Our goal with this list is simple. We want to keep you from trawling through hundreds of phrases and becoming overwhelmed by convoluted explanations.
TOK Vocabularies: The Only Terminologies You Need to Know
The following are the TOK vocabularies that matter the most in the Theory of Knowledge course:
Truth
Truth is one of the most contentious topics in TOK, as no one can agree on what it is, but there are different theories that can make it easier for you to have a sense of how complicated the “truth” is.
1. Truth based on statements that come together
Assume you're sitting in your bedroom and hear a kitchen 'drip, drip, drip'. Your sister, who arrives in the corridor, likewise hears the same 'drip, drip, drip' and inquires, "Did you leave the tap on?"
You proceed to check kitchen tap, which is definitely dripping due to the water not being completely turned off.
Three factors establish the veracity of this situation:
- You heard the tap leaking
- Your sister heard the tap dripping
- You saw the tap dripping.
These three assertions "coincide," and hence constitute the truth.
2. A truth that depicts reality
According to the Correspondence Theory of Truth, truth depends on your current situation. For example, if it’s raining outside and someone asks, “Is it raining?” there can only be one “true” response: yes, it’s raining outside.
3. Truth based on your belief
One of your friends may strongly feel that money is the key to happiness, whereas your dad may fervently believe that teaching is the finest career choice for her. These are all extremely true for those who believe them, and hence may "truth."
Knowledge
In TOK and philosophy, knowledge is a theoretical or practical comprehension of a subject. Plato defined knowledge as justified genuine belief. According to his theory, knowledge is objective and founded on true assertions about real objects.
Philosophers concur on the existence of at least four distinct categories of knowledge:
- Logical knowledge derived from the logical relationships between concepts and interactions compatible with logic's norms.
- Semantic knowledge derived from the definition of words (semantics). In other words, from the commonly recognized definitions of the terms used to define Forms.
- Mathematics and geometry are the sources of systemic knowledge gained through time, education and research.
- The five senses provide empirical information.
You can click here to read more about the Plato’s Theory of Knowledge.
Ways of Knowing
Ways of Knowing in Theory of Knowledge refers to the approaches an individual use to attempt to understand how or why something occurs. There are 8 ways of knowing, each of which you can employ independently as a means to perceive the environment. These are:
- Language
- Sense perception
- Emotion
- Reason
- Imagination
- Faith
- Intuition
- Memory
Ways of knowing are critical components because they enable you to obtain fundamental information and understanding about the world around you, which you may then develop into knowledge.
Areas of Knowledge
Areas of Knowledge are distinct areas of thoughts concerned with how groups think. There are eight AOKs:
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Humanities
- History
- Arts
- Ethics
- Religious Knowledge
- Indigenous knowledge
All Areas of Knowledge include historical discoveries and innovations, disagreements between specialists in the subject, disagreements between professionals and the broader public, paradigm changes, and information passed down through generations.
Shared Knowledge
When you're in a group, some thoughts and views are acceptable to a majority, if not to all, members. This knowledge is disseminated among group members and is therefore considered 'shared'.
Take our planet, for example. Many people worldwide accept that "the planet is round”. Few people reach this conclusion on their own and rely heavily on the acceptance and subsequent dissemination of this knowledge by their group members.
Personal Knowledge
There’s a small difference between shared and personal knowledge, but it’s critical.
Personal knowledge is the information that an individual accepts and believes, often based on personal experiences that occurred in the absence of other individuals.
For instance, you would be the only one on the planet who understands why your favorite mug shattered, as you were the only one who witnessed it fall from the counter to the floor.
Paradigm Shift
Paradigm shift refers to a significant change that takes place in one of the Areas of Knowledge. This can relate to a significant shift in the way people do or understand things.
- A paradigm shift in the manner in which someone does something: The transition from photographic film to digital photography fundamentally altered the way people took photographs.
- A paradigm shift in how one understands something: The transition from Newtonian to Quantum Mechanics marked a sea change in how people understood physics.
Premise
A premise is a fundamental assertion upon which you build an argument and serves as the foundation for all arguments in logic. A premise needs not be true.
Empirical Knowledge
Empiricism is a term that refers to justification derived from experience, which indicates that empirical knowledge results from observation, experimentation, and direct contact with the senses.
Rationalism
This is a philosophical perspective according to which reason is the primary source and arbiter of truth and knowledge.
In this situation, truth is deductive and derived from logical conclusions established by intuition or innate knowledge based on a set of guiding axioms.
Truth Test
Also known as truth criteria, these are standards used to determine the accuracy of assertions and claims. There are three primary tests of truth:
- The coherence test determines if something makes sense, fits together (coheres), and is reasonable.
- Correspondence examination looks at the available evidence and reasoning.
- The pragmatic test examines a subject matter's practical utility and workability.
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