Theory of Knowledge

This Page is Now an Archive.

Active class materials are at This Page on the new FHS web page.

Pick one of the following books (your choice) and read it over the course of the summer. Sometime during the summer, report your thoughts about the book on the post on the class blog. I will send out an email reminder to that class list over the summer. If there is a book that you think would be a good candidate which you would like to add to the list, please email me your ratioanle for including that book.

When we return in August, you should have the book and be prepared to discuss your response with your colleagues.

Note: This assignment is for IB students who will be SENIORS (class of 2012) in August, not students who will be Juniors (class of 2013). There is NO TOK summer reading for Juniors.

 Non-fiction

How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci, Michael J. Gelb

The Logic of Scientific Discovery, Karl Popper

Blink, Malcom Gladwell

Outliers, M. Gladwell

The Tipping Point, M. Gladwell

The Blank Slate,Stephen Pinker

How the Mind Works, S. Pinker

The Medici Effect, Frans Johanssen

The Three Marriages, David Whyte

Drive, Daniel Pink

 Fiction

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Mark Haddon

Sophie's World,  Jostien Gaardner

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Phillip K. Dick (inspiration for the film Blade Runner)

Arcadia, Tom Stoppard (play)

W;t, Margaret Edson (play)

How are all the Ways of Knowing in play in this Area of Knowledge? (In both positive and negative ways)

What sorts of knowledge is generated in this Area of Knowledge? What form does that knowledge come in?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of knowledge generated in this Area of Knowedge?

What are the uses or applications of the knowledge generated in this Area of Knowledge?

What cultural factors or circumstances impact knowledge or knowledge gathering in this Area of Knowledge?

How does the knowedge generated in this Area relate to, conflict with, support or otherwise engage with knowledge in other Areas of Knowledge?

  How do we know what we know, and can we prove it? Should we have to prove it- and if so, under what circumstances or conditions? These questions are the domain of Theory of Knowledge, the required core class for all IB Diploma candidates. Part philosophy, part psychology, and part cultural anthropology, the class will examine issues of knowledge and knowledge claims in all of the subject areas of the IB Diploma Program. Through journals, presentations and papers, students will come to a critical understanding of the claims of knowledge in the world around us. The class will also serve as a forum for monitoring progress in CAS requirements and completion of the Extended Essay.

Mr. Jay Stott
English Department
Fairview High School
720-561-3100
james.stott@bvsd.org

Fairview IB Office