Knowledge Questions
Knowledge questions, as the name suggests, are questions about knowledge. This seems fairly obvious, but the ability to actually extract the information can be more difficult.
Essentially, a knowledge question looks at a specific example and identifies the more generalized questions about what we can know. Some knowledge questions are a little more focused, using some of the terminology of the original example, while other knowledge questions are more general, referring only to the Areas of Knowledge associated with the example.
Essentially, a knowledge question looks at a specific example and identifies the more generalized questions about what we can know. Some knowledge questions are a little more focused, using some of the terminology of the original example, while other knowledge questions are more general, referring only to the Areas of Knowledge associated with the example.
Example: As we learn more about DNA sequencing and the human body, the ability to clone a human gets closer.
More general knowledge question: What does it mean to be human? or To what extent should Natural Science submit to ethical constraints? More specific knowledge questions: How do we determine the ethics of cloning humans? or To what extent is cloning "progress"? |
"One of the greatest joys known to man is to take a flight into ignorance in search of knowledge." -- Robert Lynd |
Each of the above knowledge questions is
Open-ended (The question demands an exploration of ideas rather than a simple response.)
Focused on knowledge (The questions are not dealing with specific techniques of cloning; they are focused on the questions about what know, especially when Areas of Knowledge interact.)
General (The questions do not focus on terminology used in Natural Science; instead, they focus on more general terms appropriate for ToK.)
Open-ended (The question demands an exploration of ideas rather than a simple response.)
Focused on knowledge (The questions are not dealing with specific techniques of cloning; they are focused on the questions about what know, especially when Areas of Knowledge interact.)
General (The questions do not focus on terminology used in Natural Science; instead, they focus on more general terms appropriate for ToK.)