theory_of_knowledge 2/02/2024

KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS | The arts

Knowledge questions (KQs) form the heart of TOK, prompting us to reflect on our knowledge, evaluate whether it's be
based on a flawed or incomplete assumptions, and provide us with a focus point to improve our understanding of the
world. Although the KQs you see here relate primarily to the arts, most of them link to other themes and AOKs and
themes, so bear this in mind as you explore them. Members of the site can use dozens of other padlets. Join us to access
them - https://theoryofknowledge.net/register/full-access-tok-membership/
1 KQs ON... the nature of the arts
THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 2:04PM
What is art?
Is originality the most important
characteristic of great art?
Can art every be truly original?
What is the purpose of art?
How distinct are the different fields of the
arts compared to other areas of knowledge?
Who owns art?
Can the future of art be predicted?
How can the arts help us to
make sense of events in society?
Does art to make us see the world differently?

2 KQs ON... the arts and values

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 2:04PM
What is the relationship
between art and morality?
How closely related are aesthetic
judgements and moral judgements?
How do the arts shape our ethical outlooks?
Are artists ‘moral experts’?
Should we consider the moral integrity
of the artist when we judge art?
Is there ever a justification
for censorship of the arts?
What role do moral themes play
in the creation of ‘good’ art?
Can art be immoral?
Should ethical constraints be applied to the arts?

3 KQs ON... communicating knowledge about the arts

 THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 2:05PM
Can artistic knowledge be
conveyed in an alternative way?
Does having a message always
undermine the integrity of art?
Is art a way of communicating
that “bypasses reason”?
What are the dangers of relying on
images to give us insight about the world?
Is the message of works of art more
important than the technique and execution?
Is all art propaganda?

4 KQs ON... the arts and perspectives

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 2:05PM
Or is our judgement of art
determined by our need to confirm
our own social and political outlooks?
How much do we need to know about the
social, cultural, and historical background
of a work of art in order to understand it?
How do our perspectives and biases
affect the way we interpret art?
What determines the way
works of art are interpreted?
Can we talk in terms of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ art?
Is artistic meaning created
by the artist or the audience?
Should all artistic productions be ‘colorblind’?
Does the subjective nature of the
senses support the work of artists?

5 KQs ON... creating new knowledge about the arts

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 2:06PM
Has art developed over time?
Can genuinely new artistic
knowledge ever be created?
Does art ever become obsolete?
How has technology influenced the
way in which art is created and viewed?
Is artistic knowledge fundamentally empirical?
Do Eureka moments (in the arts) exist?
Is new artistic knowledge created
as a way to challenge convention?
How does our use of social media
shape our perception of art?

6 KQs ON... becoming an expert knower about the arts

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 2:07PM
What gives people authority when
it comes to artistic evaluation?
Is the consensus truth test ever a
valid basis of (artistic) judgement?
 Do we judge art purely via its provenance?
Is the artist responsible for all the
meaning found within their art?
Is it possible to objectively evaluate art?
Has the role of the critic changed over time?

USING THE KQ PADLETS

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 10:42AM
Knowledge questions (KQs) form the heart of
TOK, providing us with the opportunity to discuss,
explore, and sometimes argue about the way we
acquire and use our knowledge about the world.

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 10:42AM

Although the KQs you see here relate primarily to
the arts, many of them link to other AOKs and
themes, so bear this in mind as you consider them.

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 11:17AM

Good KQs ask how we know about the world (second-
order knowledge), rather than what we know about the
world (first-order knowledge). Being able to tell the
difference between first and second-order knowledge
can be difficult, but it is the most important attribute of
successful TOK thinking - and will form the basis of your
essay and exhibition.

THEORY_OF_KNOWLEDGE 2/2/24 10:44AM

Use our other free padlets on this area of knowledge
- the quotes, real-world issues, and key thinkers - to
explore and answer these KQs, trying to identify and
challenge your assumptions as you do so.