Comments on: When can we be absolutely certain that something is true? http://www.toktalk.net/2009/12/20/when-can-we-be-absolutely-certain-that-something-is-true/ Talking about Theory of Knowledge Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:47:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: quan http://www.toktalk.net/2009/12/20/when-can-we-be-absolutely-certain-that-something-is-true/comment-page-1/#comment-8634 quan Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:40:40 +0000 http://www.toktalk.net/?p=1588#comment-8634 i think what you are saying here is that "we can be absolutely certain that something is true when the subject goes accord with certain condition". TOK is theory of knowledge - human convention defined it so, so under the condition of following the definition it is true. I don't argue whether this is false in anyway but this truthfulness depends on the condition of convention. all the other examples are also human convention. although I would like to focus on 2 interesting examples you give. if you are alive, your heart beats - those opposing stem cell research label an embryo alive, even though there's no heart to beat. if amstrong was on the moon, then his finger was certainly on the moon - this is true under the condition that his finger did not get chopped off prior to departure. so certainly true is not that different to certainly false or simply true or simply false since they are all in such a way due to "conditions". i think what you are saying here is that “we can be absolutely certain that something is true when the subject goes accord with certain condition”.

TOK is theory of knowledge – human convention defined it so, so under the condition of following the definition it is true. I don’t argue whether this is false in anyway but this truthfulness depends on the condition of convention.

all the other examples are also human convention.

although I would like to focus on 2 interesting examples you give.

if you are alive, your heart beats – those opposing stem cell research label an embryo alive, even though there’s no heart to beat.

if amstrong was on the moon, then his finger was certainly on the moon – this is true under the condition that his finger did not get chopped off prior to departure.

so certainly true is not that different to certainly false or simply true or simply false since they are all in such a way due to “conditions”.

]]> By: Bandana http://www.toktalk.net/2009/12/20/when-can-we-be-absolutely-certain-that-something-is-true/comment-page-1/#comment-6347 Bandana Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:19:28 +0000 http://www.toktalk.net/?p=1588#comment-6347 I really appreciate the effort you make in putting entire conversations between you and your students. This leads to clear revelation of the context as well as the concept and therefore clearer understanding. Your dedication shows. I really appreciate the effort you make in putting entire conversations between you and your students. This leads to clear revelation of the context as well as the concept and therefore clearer understanding. Your dedication shows.

]]> By: admin http://www.toktalk.net/2009/12/20/when-can-we-be-absolutely-certain-that-something-is-true/comment-page-1/#comment-193 admin Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:26:32 +0000 http://www.toktalk.net/?p=1588#comment-193 Thank you very much (a bit late, I know) for the compliments. Yes, making this site was a bit of a challenge, and it's always nice to hear that the contents of the site meet the interests of the readers. I have to admit that I'm not an expert on postmodernism, one of the things that I do know, is that followers have a rather relativistic view of the world. I think I'll write a post about relativism. Thank you very much (a bit late, I know) for the compliments. Yes, making this site was a bit of a challenge, and it’s always nice to hear that the contents of the site meet the interests of the readers. I have to admit that I’m not an expert on postmodernism, one of the things that I do know, is that followers have a rather relativistic view of the world. I think I’ll write a post about relativism.

]]> By: Claire http://www.toktalk.net/2009/12/20/when-can-we-be-absolutely-certain-that-something-is-true/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Claire Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:57:11 +0000 http://www.toktalk.net/?p=1588#comment-146 Mr Kim- i just wanted to thank you for putting together such a thoughtful and thought-provoking website! I read almost all of your articles and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am not a TOK student, I actually attended a high school with the IB programme and tried to get in, but didn't get accepted. (My scores were 95 on the english section, and somewhere dismally low, like in the 40's, on the math) I can't believe there wasn't a TOK class for the general students, and i feel totally cheated since i didn't even know about it! but anyway, i am now a sophomore in college, and i'm writing a final 15 page paper for honors anthropology. The subject is postmodernism, as it relates mostly to anthropology but also to art, architecture, literature, etc. One of the main premises of postmodern thought, as you may be aware, is that there is no such thing as objective information, and that facts aren't really facts at all. This was a difficult concept to wrap my head around before i could begin writing, and i found the study of knowledge theory extremely relative and helpful. I can tell you put a lot of effort into this site, and that you are a passionate and insightful teacher. So thank you, and props on the great work! Also, if you have any ideas about postmodernism in anthropology or as it relates to TOK, i would love to hear from you! Claire Mr Kim-
i just wanted to thank you for putting together such a thoughtful and thought-provoking website! I read almost all of your articles and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am not a TOK student, I actually attended a high school with the IB programme and tried to get in, but didn’t get accepted. (My scores were 95 on the english section, and somewhere dismally low, like in the 40′s, on the math) I can’t believe there wasn’t a TOK class for the general students, and i feel totally cheated since i didn’t even know about it! but anyway, i am now a sophomore in college, and i’m writing a final 15 page paper for honors anthropology. The subject is postmodernism, as it relates mostly to anthropology but also to art, architecture, literature, etc. One of the main premises of postmodern thought, as you may be aware, is that there is no such thing as objective information, and that facts aren’t really facts at all. This was a difficult concept to wrap my head around before i could begin writing, and i found the study of knowledge theory extremely relative and helpful. I can tell you put a lot of effort into this site, and that you are a passionate and insightful teacher. So thank you, and props on the great work!
Also, if you have any ideas about postmodernism in anthropology or as it relates to TOK, i would love to hear from you!
Claire

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