1. 1 The TOK diagram

2. 2 What is Knowledge? A classical definition of knowledge is: Knowledge =justified true belief –So for something to be knowledge: IT MUST BE TRUE YOU MUST BELIEVE IT YOU MUST HAVE SOME JUSTIFICATION FOR BELIEVING IT –What do these words mean? Truth, Belief, Justification.

3. 3 Justification On what basis do we test whether our beliefs are right or wrong?

4. 4 Empirical justification –We use our senses to test things in many ways. –“Knowing by experience” –Such justifications are said to be EMPIRICAL they depend on “evidence” based on experience. Examples:  I believe that the nights are light in the Icelandic summer.  I believe that driving from Akranes to Rvík takes shorter time through the Hvalfjörður tunnel than to drive the old road along the coast.  I believe that the grass is green.

5. 5 Rational justification –Sometimes we make our justification by REASONING. Such justifications are based on logical reasoning. We talk about –RATIONAL justification. Examples:  “I know that climbing up on the roof of my house and jumping down (12 m) will probably kill me”.  “I know that driving from Akranes to Rvík takes shorter time through the Hvalfjör›ur tunnel than to drive the old road along the coast”.  “I believe that my notebook can burn”.

6. 6 Analytical “truth” : is a kind of a statement that is different from the others. It is based on the language and the meaning of words, not necessarily “reality” itself. Analytical justification. Examples:  “I believe that all bachelors are unmarried men.”  “I believe that all widows have lost their husbands.”

7. 7 Aesthetic judgement: is concerned with taste, it may be true for one person but untrue for other people. Aesthetic justification. Examples:  “I believe that the paintings of Leonardo daVinci are beautiful.”  “I believe that chocolate ice cream tastes better than vanilla ice cream.”

8. 8 Moral judgement: involves issues of what is “right” and “wrong”. Moral justification. Examples:  “I believe that abortion is wrong.”  “I believe that one should always tell the truth.”

9. 9 Main sources of knowledge:  Reason  Experience  Authority  Intuition  Faith

10. 10 Discussion topics  Can we know things and be unable to put them into words?  Could a male doctor know more about childbirth than a woman who has given birth?  Could a psychoanalyst know more about you than you yourself do?  How do you know that Antarctica exists or that the Battle of Waterloo happened?  Why is knowledge by authority useful? What are its main limitations?

11. 11 Assignment 2: Classify your examples from assignment 1 as justified knowledge according to the five main sources of knowledge: Reason, Experience, Authority, Intuition and Faith Note, that you can also have other ways of justifying your examples. Then you have to explain them and try to give them a name.