The 12 Core TOK Concepts
Introduction:
In IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK), core concepts provide a toolkit for examining how knowledge is formed, justified, and used across disciplines. The twelve core concepts—Evidence, Certainty, Truth, Interpretation, Power, Justification, Explanation, Objectivity, Perspective, Culture, Values, and Responsibility—frame our inquiry into knowledge questions. Each concept will be defined and explored in philosophical terms, illustrated with examples from different Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) and relevant Ways of Knowing (WOKs), and connected to real-world contexts. Classroom activities and visual aids are suggested to help students engage with each concept. The tone is formal-academic, suitable for IBDP students and educators, and the content is original and citation-supported.
1. Evidence
Definition and Explanation
Evidence is information or data used to support or refute a knowledge claim. It can be empirical (derived from observation or experimentation) or logical (derived from reasoning). In epistemology, evidence is closely tied to justification: one philosopher describes evidence as whatever “enhances the reasonableness or justification” of a claim. Thus, evidence serves as the foundation for assessing the credibility of a belief or assertion. Critical issues include the reliability of sources, the difference between correlation and causation, and how evidence can be interpreted differently in various disciplines.
Examples in AOKs & WOKs:
- Natural Sciences (Sense Perception, Reason): Experimental data (e.g., measurement results) and reproducible observations serve as evidence for scientific theories. For instance, sense perception and instrumentation provide the evidence that water boils at 100°C under standard conditions.
- History (Memory, Language, Evidence): Historical knowledge relies on documentary and testimonial evidence (archives, letters, eyewitness accounts). A historian may assess the reliability of sources and the language used to establish evidence about past events.
- Mathematics (Reason): In mathematics, evidence often takes the form of logical proof. A theorem is considered “evidenced” by a valid derivation from axioms. Here reason is the primary WOK.
- Human Sciences (Reason, Emotion): Statistical data or survey results provide evidence in fields like psychology or economics. Researchers interpret this evidence using logic and sometimes account for emotional factors (e.g., bias in responses).
Real-life Examples:
- Natural Sciences (Sense Perception, Reason): Experimental data (e.g., measurement results) and reproducible observations serve as evidence for scientific theories. For instance, sense perception and instrumentation provide the evidence that water boils at 100°C under standard conditions.
- History (Memory, Language, Evidence): Historical knowledge relies on documentary and testimonial evidence (archives, letters, eyewitness accounts). A historian may assess the reliability of sources and the language used to establish evidence about past events.
- Mathematics (Reason): In mathematics, evidence often takes the form of logical proof. A theorem is considered “evidenced” by a valid derivation from axioms. Here reason is the primary WOK.
- Human Sciences (Reason, Emotion): Statistical data or survey results provide evidence in fields like psychology or economics. Researchers interpret this evidence using logic and sometimes account for emotional factors (e.g., bias in responses).
Classroom Activities / Reflection:
Evidence Evaluation: Present students with conflicting news reports or research abstracts and have them identify and evaluate the evidence given.
Debate Exercise: Choose a claim (e.g., “Video games cause violence”) and have students gather and present supporting and opposing evidence, discussing which evidence is stronger and why.
Inquiry Project: Ask students to design a simple experiment (e.g., testing soil pH) and collect empirical evidence; reflect on data reliability and errors.
Reflection Questions: What criteria make evidence strong or weak? How does evidence in one AOK (like science) differ from evidence in another (like ethics or art)? Can evidence ever be purely objective?
Visual Suggestions:
Comparative Table: Create a table contrasting types of evidence across AOKs (e.g., physical vs. testimonial vs. statistical evidence) and the WOKs they involve.
Concept Diagram: Draw a flowchart linking a Knowledge Claim → Evidence → Justification/Conclusion to show how claims are supported.
Evidence Spectrum: A graphic depicting a spectrum from anecdotal evidence to peer-reviewed data, illustrating varying reliability.
2. Certainty
Definition and Explanation
Certainty (or epistemic certainty) is the degree to which a belief is guaranteed true, such that one has no rational grounds for doubt. In philosophy, certainty is often treated as an ideal: for example, the proposition “all bachelors are unmarried” is objectively certain (true by definition). By contrast, most empirical knowledge is fallible: one can always imagine counterexamples or errors. TOK examines the limits of certainty. Key questions include whether any knowledge can be completely certain, and how subjective confidence (psychological certainty) differs from true epistemic certainty. For instance, Descartes famously sought indubitable beliefs (e.g., “I think, therefore I am”) by radical doubt.