TOK Practice Esssay

Word Count: 927

“The study of history is never just about an objective understanding of the past but also about the

manipulation of the present. Discuss the role played by the AOK History and one other AOK in

manipulating historical evidence”

The AOKs of history and mathematics represent distinct, but interconnected spheres of human

knowledge. They face the challenge of handling historical evidence, though through different

methodologies. These different methods both illustrate how selective use, interpretation, and subjective

choices can distort our understanding of the past and impact present-day decisions. Mathematics in

manipulation of data occurs through assumptions, interpretations and mathematical models used to

analyse historical data.

Mathematical processes, analysis and knoledge is often deemed to be objective, yet the framing and

interpretation of data can be impacted heavily or subtly by subjective decision and societal factors as long

as the human mind is involved in their creation.

Economic modeling, particularly when used in the context of policy analysis, is one example of how

historical evidence has been manipulated in the AOK of Mathematics. To evaluate the historical

effectiveness of programs, such as tax cuts or stimulus measures, economists frequently use mathematical

models. These models are based on presumptions regarding a variety of economic factors, including

consumer behavior, governmental spending, and the effects of taxes. The selection of these presumptions

is not always completely impartial and might be influenced by the ideologies of economists.
Consider tax policies for example, which are analyzed in terms of their effects. Differently minded

economists can employ mathematical models to analyze historical data. These models do, however,

frequently include presumptions that support the underlying economic ideology. A neoliberal economist

might make the assumption that the labor market is very elastic, which would lead them to believe that tax

cuts encourage economic growth. A Keynesian economist, on the other hand, would contend that

government spending is more effective at generating economic activity because they expect a lower level

of elasticity. The flexibility of mathematical modeling in constructing historical conclusions based on

economic data is shown by the fact that these subjective assumptions can lead to divergent historical

narratives.

Another area where mathematical trickery can affect historical narratives is the interpretation of historical

statistics. Making decisions regarding which statistics to highlight and how to show them is a common

part of data analysis. The interpretation of historical events may be strongly impacted by these decisions.

For instance, statisticians may concentrate on particular metrics like birth rates, mortality rates, or

population growth when examining historical demographic data. These metrics can be used to create

various historical portraits. Let's say that the emphasis is placed on a period with declining birth rates.

Then, it might result in a narrative that emphasizes demographic difficulties, but an emphasis on rising

death rates might result in a story that emphasizes health crises. Thus, the analysis of the same historical

data can produce multiple histrorical narratives depending on the statistical narratives chosen to be

emphasised.

In the AOK of History, manipulation frequently takes the form of selectively choosing, interpreting, or

suppressing particular tales in order to advance certain political, cultural, or ideological agendas.

The Soviet Union's massive propaganda apparatus of the 20th century, particularly its portrayal of the

Great Patriotic War (World War II), is one notable instance of historical evidence fabrication. Although
the Soviet Union made substantial sacrifices and was key in the defeat of Nazi Germany, the official

account frequently left out important details, such as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. This omission

serves as an example of how historical evidence has been purposefully manipulated to uphold a heroic

image while hiding unfavorable portions of wartime history.

The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression pact that

let both countries invade and occupy neighboring

countries, essentially launching the war in Eastern

Europe. The Soviet Union was portrayed as a victim

of complicated geopolitical processes rather than a

willing participant by the Soviet propaganda by

leaving out this important piece of historical

information.

Another example of historical evidence manipulation

can be found in the way colonial powers have

historically depicted their colonial endeavors. European colonial powers often constructed narratives that

portrayed their colonization efforts as benevolent missions aimed at civilizing and enlightening the

indigenous populations of colonized territories. These narratives frequently downplayed or omitted the

harsh realities of colonialism, including forced labor, cultural suppression, and the violent subjugation of

indigenous peoples. The selective emphasis on the supposedly positive aspects of colonialism distorted

the historical record, fostering a Eurocentric perspective that justified colonial expansion and exploitation.

Through the biased selection and interpretation of historical events and facts, evidence is manipulated in

both of these historical cases. The heroic image of the Soviet Union during World War II or the charitable
image of the European colonial powers throughout their imperial expansion are only two examples of

how manipulation like this serves to support specific narratives.

In conclusion, manipulating historical evidence is a task performed by both history and mathematics,

demonstrating the delicate connection between knowing the past and influencing the present. Common

components including subjectivity, ideological sway, framing, and omission highlight the likelihood of

distortion in various AOKs. For critical thinking and the pursuit of a more precise and nuanced

understanding of history and mathematics as connected fields of human knowledge, recognizing these

manipulations is crucial.

The selective use, interpretation, and arbitrary decisions made inside these AOKs thus cast doubt on how

we perceive the past and highlight the need for discernment in our quest for truth. The examples given in

this essay show that falsification of historical evidence is a widespread phenomena that casts doubt on our

ability to understand the past and how it has affected the present. We gain comprehension of the influence

of human subjectivity and prejudice in forming our perspective of the world by critically analyzing

historical narratives in both mathematics and history.

Bibliography:

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, August 16). German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact.

Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/German-Soviet-Nonaggression-Pact