Kinds of Knowledge
I/We know how...
SKILLS |
I/We experience + reflect
EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE |
I/We know that...
KNOWLEDGE CLAIMS |
Naming our concepts and showing them in relation to each other help us draw distinctions useful in thinking and talking about knowledge.
In reality, however, the three kinds of knowledge represented are interacting constantly, as are our shared and personal knowledge overall.
The names of the eight ways of knowing are fairly self explanatory. By 'reason' we mean rationality: the capacity of the mind to be logical and figure things out.
The second way of knowing which requires clarification is 'sense perception'. We are using it to describe out contact with the world through our senses - our seeing, hearing, tasting, and so forth. This way of knowing deals with observation and interpretation. For 'faith', this word is not restricted to its religious context. For more details see - Ways of Knowing |
How do they know?
What combination of ways of knowing does the man use as he learns to play the violin? What combination of kinds of knowledge is he developing - experience, skills, knowledge claims? To what extent would you say that he is gaining personal knowledge, and to what extent shared knowledge? |
Scientists in a laboratory
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What ways of knowing do they use to gain their knowledge? What ways of knowing - or what combinations of ways of knowing - do they use to justify their conclusions?
What are the relative roles of experiential knowledge, skills of investigation and knowledge claims? To what extend do you consider the natural sciences to be personal knowledge and to what extent shared knowledge? |
For reflection - ways of knowing in your personal knowledge
Consider now how these ways of knowing might operate as you try to gain some everyday knowledge of your own.
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As you follow your IB subject, you are drawing on numerous ways of knowing. Do you use a different combination of ways of knowing in your science course from the ways that you use in a language or literature course? Do you use a different blend for the activities you do within creativity, action and service (CAS)?