Theory of Knowledge Aims and Objectives

Theory of Knowledge
Aims and Objectives

* Consider that knowledge may place responsibilities on the knower.
Knowledge absolutely may place responsibilities on the knower in a lot of situations. An obvious example of this is a situation where one person knows of another person’s criminal intentions. That knowledge means that the knower has the responsibility of informing the police, because no one else has the knowledge to do so. If they don’t inform the authorities, then any resulting illegal event is as much their fault as it is the criminal’s, because they could have had it prevented. In ordinary situations, in which there is no illegal activity, it is still true that knowledge can place responsibilities on the knower. If a person has knowledge, it is reasonable to expect that he or she will use that knowledge appropriately in their everyday lives. Things as simple as watching their tongue if they are speaking with someone they know to be religious, so that they don’t offend or alienate them, or choosing to ignore some characteristics or details of a person if they know that the person is sensitive about them. If, however, they did not know that the person they swore in front of was religious, then it wouldn’t be their fault for offending them. They didn’t know. But if they did know, then they would definitely be held responsible for offending them, because they did not show respect for their beliefs and values. On any level, it is important for a person to take note of the knowledge they have, and to use it accordingly. If they do not take responsibility for the knowledge, they will be held responsible for the consequences.

* Identify values underlying judgements and knowledge claims pertinent to local and global issues.
It is important to be able to identify values underlying judgements and knowledge claims relevant to local and global issues, because of the many different cultures that could be contributing and how they could affect these judgements and knowledge claims. It is important to be aware of the underlying values because they are almost without a doubt rooted in some type of culture or another, and as is obvious, all cultures have their differences. So, in identifying these values, a person can better understand why some judgements or knowledge claims were made, in turn allowing them to be less close-minded about them and how they affect various cultures and peoples. If a person can’t identify the values underlying judgements and knowledge claims, then they have no way of determining the reasoning behind them, and so they may never understand why some decisions are made, whether in their community, or globally.