Theory of Knowledge
TOK
Nature of sense perception
Q1A) In what ways does the biological constitution of a living organism determine, influence or limit its sense perception? B) If humans are sensitive only to certain ranges of stimuli, what consequences or limitations might this have for the acquisition of knowledge?
Ans-A- The biological constitution of a living organism has a mammoth influence on the sense perception of an organism. The biological institution of an organism can even enhance or degrade the level, degree and method of sense perception by an organism. Take the Homo sapiens or rather humans for example the relatively strong eyesight causes the overdependence on eyesight and eyes and the other senses are therefore held in less importance and dependence. But in the case of a blind human the other senses sharpen (sense of smell, hearing, touch and taste). Another example one can take is a nocturnal animal such as the owl. The owl has eyes as well but the eyes of an owl are far different from that of a human. They can see far more clearly in the night which causes the owl to be crepuscular the main activities of living in the darker hours rather than the day. Plus owls have an impressive sense of hearing which help them in their day to day activities. Imagine if owls did not have different eyes would they still be crepuscular? I definitely don’t think so, wouldn’t this alter the way the general owl lives, and they’d probably change from being hunters of the night to being hunters of the day. Imagine a polar bear without fur; could the polar bear survive in the harsh climate of the arctic?? The fur is fundamentally a means of the polar bear to retain heat and not freeze in the deadly climate of the arctic. Without this biological externality wouldn’t the polar bear feel a lot colder perhaps would change or alter the polar bear’s sense of touch not just because of the effect of the cold but because without the fur the skin of the polar bear will be in direct contact
Nature of sense perception
Q1A) In what ways does the biological constitution of a living organism determine, influence or limit its sense perception? B) If humans are sensitive only to certain ranges of stimuli, what consequences or limitations might this have for the acquisition of knowledge?
Ans-A- The biological constitution of a living organism has a mammoth influence on the sense perception of an organism. The biological institution of an organism can even enhance or degrade the level, degree and method of sense perception by an organism. Take the Homo sapiens or rather humans for example the relatively strong eyesight causes the overdependence on eyesight and eyes and the other senses are therefore held in less importance and dependence. But in the case of a blind human the other senses sharpen (sense of smell, hearing, touch and taste). Another example one can take is a nocturnal animal such as the owl. The owl has eyes as well but the eyes of an owl are far different from that of a human. They can see far more clearly in the night which causes the owl to be crepuscular the main activities of living in the darker hours rather than the day. Plus owls have an impressive sense of hearing which help them in their day to day activities. Imagine if owls did not have different eyes would they still be crepuscular? I definitely don’t think so, wouldn’t this alter the way the general owl lives, and they’d probably change from being hunters of the night to being hunters of the day. Imagine a polar bear without fur; could the polar bear survive in the harsh climate of the arctic?? The fur is fundamentally a means of the polar bear to retain heat and not freeze in the deadly climate of the arctic. Without this biological externality wouldn’t the polar bear feel a lot colder perhaps would change or alter the polar bear’s sense of touch not just because of the effect of the cold but because without the fur the skin of the polar bear will be in direct contact