Theory of Knowledge

Anand Kumar
 Introduction
 Theory of knowledge is a branch of philosophy
that cover following aspects.
 What is knowledge?
 How is knowledge acquired ?
 What are the attributes of knowledge?
 Source of knowledge
 Architecture of knowledge
 Application of knowledge
 Knowledge
Knowledge can define in several manner in
different fields
A true belief is the knowledge that must have a
justification.(philosophy)
 what is known in a particular field or in total;
facts and information(Oxford)
There is no common definition of knowledge.
Tok
Outlook of ToK
Perception

Memory or Past

Consciousness

Reason

Testimony

Architecture of Knowledge

Analysis of Knowledge

Application
 Perception
Perception is the process by which organisms interpret and
organize sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the
world.
Sensation usually refers to the immediate, relatively
unprocessed result of stimulation of sensory receptors in the
eyes, ears, nose, tongue, or skin.
Every perception leads beliefs about object and event into our
mind.
 Memory
Memory is a store house of our past perception, beliefs and
experiences.

A vast proportion of beliefs are stored in memory but memory

itself does not originate beliefs.
Memory build on perception.
Memory is a basic source of justification.
A justification may strengthen or weaken the beliefs.
 Consciousness
This is an inner perception.
Consciousness is subjective experience or awareness or the
executive control system of the mind.

Consciousness= Images of memory + Imagination.

 Reason
Reason is a motive to exercise the things.
Reason makes room for the possibility that one
can consider and adequately understand a self
evidence proposition yet fail to believe.
 Testimony
• A testimony is known as statements that are
based on personal experience.
• Testimony is a special source of knowledge.
• It has social ground of beliefs.
 Architecture of Knowledge
Belief 1 Belief 2 Belief 1 ……………… -> Belief n

Inferential Belief

Belief 1 Belief 2 Belief 1 ……………… -> Belief n

Circular Belief

Knowledge has similar architecture as belief it may be infinite inferential or circular

knowledge.
Knowledge makes a chain in our brain with all related belief and justification.
Multiple chain exist in mind.
 Analysis of Knowledge
• We know knowledge arises in experience
through all sources and justification.
• A false belief and belief on lucky guess is not
knowledge.
• Knowledge is a right kind of true belief and
appropriately caused true belief.
• How much knowledge we have.
 Application of Tok
• Artificial Intelligence
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Cultural Anthropology
• History 
Thanks