| The Four Ways of Knowing |
Sense Perception "The ear tends to be lazy, craves the familiar, and is shocked by the unexpected; the eye, on the other hand, tends to be impatient, craves the novel and is bored by repetition." W. H. Auden "We perceive the world through our five senses: sense perception is the active, selective and interpretive process of recording or becoming conscious of the external world." (IBO Theory of Knowledge Guide)
Required Readings: In class handouts: "Why Music?" (Economist) "Color Affects Mood, Personality" (Arab News) and perception activities Suggested Readings: Alchin Chapter 10
Related In-Class Activities and Formative Assessments:
Language "Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "Langauge is so much a part of human activity that it is easily taken for granted. (...) Language can be thought of as a symbol system, engaged in representing the world, capturing and communicating thought and experience. Language also can be seen as existing in itself, as something to be played with and transformed and shaped in its own right and something that can transform and shape thought and action." (IBO Theory of Knowledge Guide)
Required Readings: Alchin Chapter 12 and in-class handouts: Nothingness, Atwood, El Saadawi Suggested Readings:
Related In-Class Activities and Formative Assessments:
Summative Journal 3: Find a quotation on language (that speaks to you) and explore its meaning. Please consider the ways in which the quotation is "true" and the ways in which the quotation is "not true."
Reason "In formal logic, a contradiction is the signal of defeat, but in the evolution of real knowledge, it marks the first step in progress toward a victory." Alfred North Whitehead "For when disputes arise, what is at issue is not only the substance of the facts, but also the appropriateness of the reasons given for acceptance of the facts, and the validity of the logical procedures used in reaching the conclusion." (IBO Theory of Knowledge Guide)
Required Readings: Alchin Chapter 5, In class handouts :Descartes Suggested Readings:
Summative Journal four: Read the quotation from Alfred North Whitehead (above) and respond to it in 1-2 pages. Remember to include both claims and counter-claims, and provide real-world, concrete examples to support your claims and counter-claims.
Emotion "You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings." Pearl S Buck "Emotions play a powerful role in shaping the thoughts, influencing behaviour, and steering the pursuit of knowledge." (IBO Theory of Knowledge Guide)
Required Readings: In class handouts: Evans Reading Suggested Readings: Alchin Chapter 6
Read the article from Serendip.com and in 1-2 pages, respond to the article. Remember to include both your claims and counter-claims.
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