Biology and TOK

The ‘Real World’ The ‘TOK World’

*concrete Real Life Situation *abstract
*specific *Could be from an article or personal life… *general
*Helpful if claims made in a specific AOK

I read an article about Endosymbiotic Theory (ET). When first published there
was backlash as scientists didn’t believe that cooperation could be involved in
evolution as it contrasts with Darwin’s idea of evolution through competition.
First Order Claims Second Order Claims
*Often explicitly stated *Often implied rather than stated
*Rather specific to the Real Life Situation *More general than First Order Claims

Scientists did not accept the idea as it
conflicted with current theories.
Experimental evidence came 16 years
later helping confirm the theory.
Lynn Margulis was described as a
radical by her peers.
What does this say more
generally about knowledge?
Scientists must sometimes choose
between competing theories.
Scientists remain sceptical in the absence
of experimental ‘facts’.
It can require personal strength to
produce knowledge in science.

First Order Questions Second Order Questions

*Questions you might see on a subject test *KQs: About knowledge, General, Open
*Vocabulary is specific to the subject *Derived from the Second Order Claims

What distinguished ET theory from How should scientists choose between

competing ones? competing theories?
What was the most compelling evidence What is the relationship between facts
supporting ET? and theories?
In what ways did ET theory challenge the What is the role of knower’s perspective
orthodoxy? in science?