11/3 & 11/4 Do Now: Take out your TOK ESSAY!!!! Do Now: Take out your TOK ESSAY!!!! Make sure your NAME & TITLE are at the top!!!! Make sure your NAME & TITLE are at the top!!!!

11/3 & 11/4 Sense Perception In your JOURNAL answer the following question: In your JOURNAL answer the following question: What do you think of when you hear the word “sense”? What do you think of when you hear the word “sense”? If for some reason you had to sacrifice one of your senses, which would you be most willing to lose and which would you be least willing to lose? Give reasons. If for some reason you had to sacrifice one of your senses, which would you be most willing to lose and which would you be least willing to lose? Give reasons. Do you think that perception is a more important source of knowledge in some subjects rather than others? Are there any areas of knowledge in which it plays no role? Do you think that perception is a more important source of knowledge in some subjects rather than others? Are there any areas of knowledge in which it plays no role?

TOK: Ways of Knowing Sense Perception Long before we have learned how to use language or our powers of reason or be anything like in control of our emotions, we are able to make use of our senses, and so it seems apt to start our exploration of the four ways of knowing with sense perception.

Sense Perception Can be defined as the awareness of things through our five senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, & smell Can be defined as the awareness of things through our five senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, & smell These are the gates and windows of the mind These are the gates and windows of the mind

Empiricism One major school of philosophy known as empiricism states all knowledge is ultimately based on perceptual experience One major school of philosophy known as empiricism states all knowledge is ultimately based on perceptual experience This is extreme This is extreme But think of the role played by observation through sciences, arts, and history But think of the role played by observation through sciences, arts, and history

Common Sense Realism It is a passive and relatively straightforward process which gives us an accurate picture of reality

Other Senses… Kinesthetic sense: awareness of one’s own body movements and dimensions Kinesthetic sense: awareness of one’s own body movements and dimensions Vestibular sense: balance Vestibular sense: balance Organic sense: the ‘call of nature’, hunger, thirst, etc. Organic sense: the ‘call of nature’, hunger, thirst, etc. And we’re only talking about humans! And we’re only talking about humans!

Are you the same person you were yesterday Are you the same person you were yesterday Will you be the same person tomorrow Will you be the same person tomorrow

Sense Perception is an important dimension of our understanding of the World  The channel of communication between ourselves and the outside world  Its function and scope should be examined and critically evaluated

Perception can be thought of consisting of two distinct parts Perception can be thought of consisting of two distinct parts Sensation: The part provided by the world around us Sensation: The part provided by the world around us Interpretation: The part provided by our minds Interpretation: The part provided by our minds

Our experience of the world is affected not only by what is ‘out there’ but also by our sense organs AND our minds

Hermann von Helmholtz’s on Sight We convert the shaky and rather inaccurate pictures generated by our eyes into something that makes sense based on our understanding of the world. We convert the shaky and rather inaccurate pictures generated by our eyes into something that makes sense based on our understanding of the world.

Gestalt Theory We make a ‘best fit’ of images created by our eyes, and added that we do so by perceiving the whole, rather than little bits of the object we are looking at individually. We make a ‘best fit’ of images created by our eyes, and added that we do so by perceiving the whole, rather than little bits of the object we are looking at individually. We do this unconsciously and very quickly. We do this unconsciously and very quickly. The phrase stating that, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ is associated with Gestalt psychology. The phrase stating that, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ is associated with Gestalt psychology.

THE EYE IS SIMPLY A WINDOWS TO OUR BRAIN, WE ACTUALLY USE OUR BRAIN TO SEE A quarter of our brain is used to process information that is taken in by your eyes. Predators have both eyes facing the front for a better vision to catch their pray Herbivores have eyes more on the side of their head for a peripheral view for their safety Some people (only males) are colour blind, they can’t determine the difference between reds and blues, and others can’t see any colour Some people cant see motion, they see an image every few seconds.

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS

TOK Activity WaysOfKnowing/Perception/index.htm WaysOfKnowing/Perception/index.htm WaysOfKnowing/Perception/index.htm WaysOfKnowing/Perception/index.htm How many times does the team wearing white shirts pass the basketball? Count carefully. How many times does the team wearing white shirts pass the basketball? Count carefully. Keith Barry: Brain magic Keith Barry: Brain magic Keith Barry: Brain magic Keith Barry: Brain magic

Sense Perception Assignment Title – What role does perception play in different areas of knowledge –Knowledge Question: –Thesis –Claim –Explain –Example –Counter Claim –Example –Connect Back KQ –Claim (2) –Explain –Example –Counter Claim (2) –Example –Connect Back KQ

BRING YOUR BLINDFOLDS NEXT CLASS!!! BRING YOUR BLINDFOLDS NEXT CLASS!!!

IMPORTANCE AND LIMITATIONS OF SENSE PERCEPTION The following questions may help students become aware of the nature and power of sense perception. The following questions may help students become aware of the nature and power of sense perception. To what extent do our senses give us knowledge of the world as it really is? To what extent do our senses give us knowledge of the world as it really is? What is the role of culture and language in the perceptual process? What is the role of culture and language in the perceptual process? Given the partially subjective nature of sense perception, how can different ‘knowers’ ever agree on what is perceived? Given the partially subjective nature of sense perception, how can different ‘knowers’ ever agree on what is perceived?