Tok - Notes

3. ”The possession of knowledge carries an ethical responsibility”. Evaluate this claim
(notes)
 Key words: Knowledge, ethical responsibility, evaluate
- Evaluate = explore to what extent the statement is true given different interpretations of knowledge and the idea of ethical responsibility + evaluate the statement in contexts of ways of knowing and areas of knowing
- Ethical responsibility = refers to the idea that you should do something to correct a harmful situation or prevent harm from happening
 Knowledge issues:
- Why should knowing lead to ethical responsibility? Is ethical responsibility rather created by what the knower does with knowledge?
- Is it our interpretation of knowledge that create ethical responsibility rather than knowledge in itself?
- How does possession of knowledge create ethical responsibility? At what point in the process of knowing, if ever, is ethical responsibility created?
- Is knowledge in some (or perhaps all) areas of knowledge without ethical dimension?
 Ways of knowing:
- Perception – discuss how/if knowledge gained through perception carries ethical responsibility
- Reason – discuss whether or not reason can be used to determine the limits of ethical responsibility and what is morally right and wrong  exploration of moral theories?
- Role of language – natural language is used to express moral judgments – contain biases  vague expressions, connotations and nuances may color ideas or lead to biased conclusions
 Areas of knowledge:
- Discuss different areas of knowledge, e.g:
- Arts: offending art
- Human sciences: experiments, unethical business practices
- Applications of scientific discoveries
- Historical interpretations
- Ethics??
 Argument:
- Arguments should be supported by examples from ways of knowing, areas of knowledge and personal experiences
- Counter claims?
- Explore different perspectives
 Personal voice:
- Discuss when/if I’ve felt ethically responsible 