Theory of knowledge prescribed titles

May 2019 examination session

Instructions to candidates
Your theory of knowledge essay for examination must be submitted to your teacher for
authentication. It must be written on one of the six titles (questions) provided overleaf. You may
choose any title, but are recommended to consult with your teacher. Your essay will be marked
according to the assessment instrument published in the theory of knowledge guide. The focus
of your essay should be on knowledge questions. Where appropriate, refer to other parts of your
IB programme and to your experiences as a knower. Always justify your statements and provide
relevant examples to illustrate your arguments. Pay attention to the implications of your arguments,
and remember to consider what can be said against them. If you use external sources, cite them
according to a recognized convention.

Note that statements in quotations in these titles are not necessarily authentic: they present a real
point of view but may not be direct quotes. It is appropriate to analyse them but it is unnecessary,
even unwise, to spend time on researching a context for them.

Examiners mark essays against the title as set. Respond to the title exactly as given; do not alter it
in any way.

Your essay must have a maximum of 1600 words.

2 pages © International Baccalaureate Organization 2018

 –2–

1. “The quality of knowledge is best measured by how many people accept it.” Discuss this claim with
reference to two areas of knowledge. Commented [DT1]: Define best measured and quality
of knowledge
what does it mean by many people
2. “The production of knowledge is always a collaborative task and never solely a product of the Individual knowledge vs shared knowledge
Study group?
individual.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. Understanding vs acceptance
Qualitative vs quantitative knowledge
Other indicators like justice
3. Do good explanations have to be true? Empirical vs non-empirical data
Subjectivity vs objectivity
Malcom Gladwel - proxy values that are valid
Relationship between expertise and connoisseurship
4. “Disinterestedness is essential in the pursuit of knowledge.” Discuss this claim with reference to When and how may we be satisfied with the use of
two areas of knowledge. proxy value
Why should we or should we not welcome popularizing
explanations (simplifying thus accessible to everyone)
of knowledge?
5. “The production of knowledge requires accepting conclusions that go beyond the evidence for
Ratings of teachers
them.” Discuss this claim.
Commented [DT2]: How to we determine the value of
an explanation
Bohr model in chemistry, not perfect explanation but
6. “One way to assure the health of a discipline is to nurture contrasting perspectives.” Discuss this useful for teaching
claim. The coherence truth test vs methods in scientific
revolution
People like paradigm in which provides puzzle for
people to solve
Instrumental goodness is accepting that its true
Commented [DT3]: What disinterestedness means?
Why not just objectivity rather than disinterestedness
Avoid the word “objectivity” entirely, loosely used and
hard to define
Is it essential?
The truth must be prove on our pulses until we are
disinterested
KQ: IS disinterestedness central in the pursue of
knowledge?
Scientist vs artist
“Constantly adopted”