TOK Ways of Knowing Essay

All four ways of knowing, emotion, reason, language, and sense perception are helpful in conducting a good argument. This is because every element is more affective in different situations. However sense perception is the most important element in creating a good argument that is intended to prove that a certain object is actually what it is supposed to be but when trying to persuade someone to change their decision on a certain topic, reason is more ideal. Reason is the most important because it provides facts for why a certain argument is true. Sense perception is the way of knowing with one’s senses which includes touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste. It helps reinforce certain facts such as knowing what a specific object is. If I wanted to know if something was an apple, I could look at it, taste it, touch it, and smell it to verify that it actually is an apple. Although hearing isn’t applicable in this situation, the other senses make up for it. If all of the senses confirm that it is a certain object, it is most likely that object. Some people think that this is the most important element in creating a good argument but this idea is false because our sense become impaired after a while. When humans age, we tend to lose focus in our senses including vision and hearing which creates doubt. Since it creates doubt, it cannot be a fact because facts have to be right without any doubt. Also, without facts, an argument is a lot weaker because there is no proof that backs up with it is actually trying to argue. This is why I believe that unless there is a way to confirm that whatever is trying to be argued with sense perception, sense perception isn’t as impacting. Reason is the most important way of knowing out of them all because it convinces the other person to give in to the argument. It persuades them by giving them actual facts that force them to get deeper into the argument and realize why they should give in. For example, a couple of years ago, I visited the Taj Mahal in India. It was beautiful and everything but it was also the destination for all beggars to go because they knew that people from all over the world with money would come to see the magnificent building. A group of homeless kids came up to my family and begged us for money. One little girl stuck out the most to me because she was holding a baby in her arms. She told us that they didn’t have any parents and that she had to raise the baby all by herself. I didn’t even know if she was telling me the truth or not but her reasoning is what caused me to want to end up giving her some money because it made me think about what I would do if I was in her position. Sense perception would’ve proven that they were all beggars without homes or money but it wouldn’t have convinced me to give money to that on girl. Although all ways of knowing are helpful in different arguments, sense perception and reason are the most helpful. I personally think that reason is a better choice for trying to persuade someone to change their mind because that’s the easiest way to change mine. Facts are the most valuable resources in a good argument and reason and sense perception are the only elements that supply facts. However reason’s facts are more trustworthy. Emotion and language just add emphasis and try to convince the other person by messing with their thoughts and feelings. If I had to pick one specific element that is important in creating a good argument in general, I would pick reason.