Theory of Knowledge Final
Exam
1. Why do social sciences rely heavily on statistical methods in their search for hypotheses. What problem does the fact that “correlation is not causation” pose for the social sciences when using these methods?
2. What is a cultural invariant? What does the existence of such a universal imply?
3. Explain what is meant by “human actions… are charged with meanings” and give two or more of your own examples of this. How does this affect how social sciences are done as compared to natural sciences?
4. What is reductionism? What is
emergence? (Give examples from natural
or social sciences.)
5. List four functions of a scientific theory and give your own example from theories you know for one of these functions and briefly describe how it satisfies the function.
6.
What is meant by "fact is
richer than diction.”
7.
Answer
one of the “Science Teaser” questions you have not previously answered.
8.
Answer
one of the “Social Science Teaser” questions you have not previously answered.
9.
Answer
one of the “Language/Math/Theology/Aesthetics/Law Teaser” questions you have
not previously answered which is not from the area you focused on for your
final investigation.
10. Describe the propaganda piece
(quote, lyrics, poster, etc.) your chose to represent your freedom in the “Freedoms
Project.” Explain briefly why you chose
this piece.
1.
Outline
the Multiple Intelligences theory of Howard Gardner. Define what it says, the problems it appears to resolve and its
impact on current educational theory and practice.
2. Outline a situation that creates a moral dilemma. Give the options available in the situation, the moral principles in conflict and YOUR resolution. Explain clearly why you favor this resolution.
3. Defend one of the freedoms discussed in class other than the one you defended in the online forum.
4. Use the “Good Argument” checklist you have in the back of your notebook to analyze the argument you have given for question 3.
5. Discuss one of the films we have watched in class (I, Robot, Minority Report or Land and Freedom) from a ToK perspective (i.e. discuss it from the perspective of determinism vs. free will, the meaning of consciousness, good reasons for knowing, etc.).
6. Apply the principles/ideas used by Noam Chomsky to analyze the ethics of an historical event not previously discussed in class. Check out the Chomskyan ideas and examples discussed in class for inspiration and guidance.
1. Choose one of the areas of academic knowledge you did NOT do for the final investigation (i.e. mathematics, theology, literature and language, law or aesthetics). Answer the essential questions for this area in an essay format.
Introspection Questions (150 to 300 words) – Choose 1
1.
One
of the purposes of a course in Theory of Knowledge is to help students
challenge their assumptions. Describe
one assumption that you held, prior to following this course of study, and that was challenged by what you
learned. How did you change your thinking?
What discussions, research or other activities influenced you? Outline some of the arguments that you felt
challenged your way of thinking, and describe how your ideas changed.
2.
Consider the type of questions that we have addressed in this course: we
have investigated the nature knowledge, belief, reality and perception, moral
issues, and much more. What important question remains open in your mind? How would you go about answering this
question? Offer an intelligent guess as
to what the potential answers the answer to your question might be. Are there
other questions that you will have to answer first?