How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past

knowledge?

Object 1 - Telescope by Galileo Galilei

This is a telescope from 1609, made by Galileo Galilei. However, the first telescope was

invented by Hans Lippershey1. Within the scientific discipline, his invention spawned new

ways of thinking and doing2. After a few years of experimentation by scientists, in 1655, the

power of the telescopes developed immensely, as many scientists began to develop their

theories and hypotheses astronomy, as many scientists began to develop their theories and

hypotheses astronomy. William Herschel made significant improvements to the study of

natural sciences as well, his telescope was remarkably developed, it was the first with the

ability of astrophotography3. James Gregory gave a valuable suggestion about making

reflecting telescopes in 16634, this idea was later used by Isaac Newton and this was called

“Gregorian” his great suggestion is still used for making the latest telescopes today.5

These scientists gained information through experimentation, justification, collecting

evidence, and methods, empirical evidence was greatly valuable as well.

1
(Wikipedia Contributors)
2
(Dang)
3
(Carl Koppeschaar's ASTRONET)
4
(National Museums Scotland)
5
(Wikipedia Contributors)
Researchers discovered new theories using their versions of a telescope, and research was

produced in a systematic method over these centuries. Today, the world has extraordinary

telescopes like the Giant Magellan, with the Gregorian concept, which is from 16636. These

mind-blowing advancements from magnificence of 20 times to the telescopes that can allow

scientists to explore the entire cosmos were possible after years of improvements in the

application of knowledge.

I chose a telescope from 1608 because the development of telescopes over 400 years

perfectly shows how our current understanding about natural sciences is based on the

knowledge acquired and developed in the past. Today's ideas and knowledge are products of

the previous knowledge.

6
(Wikipedia Contributors)
 Object 2- Photo 51

Rosalind Franklin took the first photograph of the DNA in 1952. It is recognized as 'Photo

51'7. Individuals had no clue about how we acquire and pass on qualities or how a solitary

cell may develop into a living being a little more than a century prior, but the discovery of

DNA changed that and started developing new ways of thinking8. Friedrich Miescher9 was

the first to discover DNA with his objective thinking and his empirical evidence about what

DNA could be10. Theories were usually judged by how similar they were to the existing

ones11.

Friedrich Miescher's discovery was just the beginning of big data and there were various

logical fallacies too. I picked photo 51 with this prompt because by looking at the first photo

of the DNA we can anticipate the scientific revolution that took place over these years and

changed our ways of thinking and knowing today. After 160 years the scientists are now

capable of various things like Genetic engineering, DNA profiling, DNA nanotechnology and

more.

7
(Hernandez)
8
(Ahlstrom)
9
(DNA Learning Center)
10
(DNA Worldwide)
11
(Dang)
The relationship between scientific research and technological innovations developed the

scope of technology and the availability of resources expanded, and the relationship between

technology and knowledge developed. Which helped researchers produce knowledge that is

useful till date, an example for this is the research developed by Friedrich Miescher12 which is

still referred to by scientists while developing latest theories. Therefore the knowledge we

have today is an improvement on the past knowledge. The research produced years ago has

helped us increase our understanding about the world around us.

12
(Dahm)
 Object 3 - Photograph of Knap of Howar

This is a photograph of Knap of Howar, which is known for being one of the oldest

architectures13. It is located in Scotland, and was inhabited between 3700 and 2800 BC. I

chose this object to describe the evolution of architecture14 over time with the aid of past

knowledge. The photograph shows the underdeveloped structure from centuries ago. The

whole structure is made up of stone, which makes it strong but on the other hand, the

architecture is primitive15. Buildings were originally constructed of perishable materials such

as branches, stones, and animal hides. Materials like stone, clay, and wood were used in the

invention process. Then the era of bricks and concrete eventually arrived. Later came the

industrial revolution, which brought metals and steel, which was called an architectural

revolution16. Buildings today are made of bricks, concrete, and glass. People learned and

improved with experience and trial and error. The previous knowledge taught us to think

13
(Mark)
14
(Nishi)
15
(Orkneyjar)
16
(TufLite)
deeply on the basis of experience, these improvements were viable because history taught us

how construction ought to be done and what the possible mistakes are.

One of the oldest architectures helps us compare the evolution of ideas and technology. Our

past knowledge has helped us construct better, architects have learned from the past

improvements and mistakes making our current architecture desirable.

We started understanding technology better, knowing and being in a technological world

too17. Technology improved rapidly with the knowledge that was gathered from history, so

what we know today about construction is based on the past; therefore the past knowledge

has changed our relationship with knowledge and technology today18.

17
(Digital Technologies Hub)
18
(TOK 2022)
Bibliography

1. Wikipedia Contributors. "History of the telescope." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Inc., n.d.,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_telescope. Accessed 10 Feb 2021.

2. Dang, Marija Uzunova and Dang, Arvin Singh Uzunov. IB Theory of Knowledge

Course Companion. Oxford University Press, 2020.

3. "Christiaan Huygens discovers Saturn's moon Titan using this telescope lens." Carl

Koppeschaar's ASTRONET, n.d., https://carlkop.home.xs4all.nl/huyglens.html.

Accessed 12 Mar 2021.

4. "Who was James Gregory?." National Museums Scotland, n.d.,

https://web.archive.org/web/20170117064000/http://www.nms.ac.uk/explore/stories/

science-and-technology/reflecting-telescope/telescopes/james-gregory/. Accessed on

18 Mar 2021.

5. Wikipedia Contributors. "Gregorian_telescope." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Inc., n.d.,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_telescope. Accessed 15 Mar 2021.

6. Wikipedia Contributors. "Giant Magellan Telescope." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Inc., n.d.,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Magellan_Telescope. Accessed 18 Mar 2021.

7. Hernandez, Victoria. "Photograph 51, by Rosalind Franklin (1952)." The Embryo

Project Encyclopedia. 30 Dec. 2019, https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/photograph-51-

rosalind-franklin-1952. Accessed 07 Mar 2021.

8. Ahlstrom, Dick. "DNA: the double helix that changed the world." The Irish Times. 25

Apr. 2013, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/dna-the-double-helix-that-

changed-the-world-1.1371446. Accessed 09 Mar 2021.

9. "DNA and proteins are key molecules of the cell nucleus." DNA Learning Center.,

n.d., http://www.dnaftb.org/15/bio.html. Accessed 12 Mar 2021.

10. "The History of DNA Timeline." DNA Worldwide, n.d., https://www.dna-

worldwide.com/resource/160/history-dna-timeline. Accessed 07 Mar 2021.

11. Dahm, Ralf. "Friedrich Miescher and the discovery of DNA." Developmental Biology,

Vol. 278, no. 2, 2005, pp. 274-288. ScienceDirect,

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012160604008231. Accessed 08

Mar 2021.

12. Mark, Joshua J. "Knap of Howar." World History Encyclopedia. World History

Encyclopedia, 17 Oct 2012, https://www.worldhistory.org/Knap_of_Howar/.

Accessed 19 Mar 2021.

13. Nishi, Shanika. "Evolution of Architecture- Connecting dots between architectural

history, present and future." ReThinking the Future, n.d., https://www.re-

thinkingthefuture.com/rtf-fresh-perspectives/a1423-evolution-of-architecture-

connecting-dots-between-architectural-history-present-and-future/. Accessed 19 Mar

2021.

14. "The Knap o' Howar, Papay." Orkneyjar, n.d.,

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/knaphowar.htm. Accessed 19 MAr 2021.

15. "Evolution of building materials." TufLite, n.d.,

https://www.tuflite.com/blog/evolution-building-materials. Accessed 18 Mar 2021.

16. "Unit Changes in Technology." Digital Technologies Hub, n.d.,

https://www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/teachers/scope-and-sequence/f-2/digital-

systems/changes-in-technology. Accessed 18 Mar.2021.

17. "Areas of Knowledge." TOK 2022, n.d., https://tok2022.weebly.com/areas-of-

knowledge.html. Accessed 19 Mar. 2021.