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Do you agree that it is "astonishing that so little knowledge can…
Do you agree that it is "astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power"(Bertrand Russell)? Discuss with reference to the natural science and one other area of knowledge.
Mathematics
- Mathematical equations and knowledge is simple yet it can be implied in multiple ways to solve everyday problems.
- Knowing simple operations such as subtraction and addition may help a person in keeping for this months budget.
- d=√(x₁ – x₂)² + (y₁ – y₂)². A distance equation may help a person to find the shortest distance towards his destination. This is perhaps useful during wars where efficient time and resources will give them an advantage.
- However, knowing and mastering an equation are two different things. Even though a person know an equation for distance, he might not know its application. Such as a person can be given the best fishing reels and boats that the world can offer, but if he is not a fisher in the first place, it is worthless. In this case, powerless.
- Subsequently, astonishing in this area of knowledge can be interpreted as surprising since mathematical equations possess multiple occasions where it can be used, some even applies in never thought after situations. Therefore, it is surprising that simple equations can give a person so much power.
Natural Sciences AOK deals with subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and more.
Agree or disagree?
- Assuming that "little" is defined by quantity, hence an individual who knows the cure to cancer will possess an enormous power in his field since there are no cures yet for cancer. The person have the power to control distribution of the knowledge and what is he going to do with the knowledge.
- By the same token, any "little" knowledge in Natural Sciences may possess greater amount of power than any other AOKs. This is because knowledge in Natural Sciences is concrete and proven by scientific methods concerning quantitative and qualitative observations. Hence, a knowledge that is strongly justified is hardly debatable.
- As stated in the Mathematics AOK, a person may possess the knowledge of curing a cancer. But if he is not a doctor or scientist, the person would have difficulties in understanding or reasoning behind the knowledge, hence even such an important knowledge will become worthless.
- The astonishing factor here might not mean surprising since the cure for cancer is globally sought after. It has been the main topics discussed by scientists over the decades. In this case, astonishing is interpreted as amazing since the person or organization have the ability to possess the knowledge that everyone have been searching for all over the years.
- It is crucial also to state whether that I agree or disagree with the statement.
- Power is one of the 12 core concepts in TOK. It refers to the ability to exercise one's will over others. Power gives a person authority over others; control people or events.
- The word "agree" invites the reader to give an opinion regarding the matter. The extent of our opinion must be supported with sufficient evidence and justifications so that my opinion is firm.
- The word "do you" also gives me the option to disagree the statement. Hence, the words and how I present my arguments is important towards the side that I am leaning on
- Knowledge and power are interrelated. Those who have more knowledge will have greater power in society
3.However, this might not be the case as suggested by the PT, only by having little knowledge, a person can have so much power.
- The PT does not directly address the word little, hence it can be interpreted differently. For example, knowing the secret of Coca-Cola. Because there are fewer people who knows the secret of the successful business, the value of the knowledge becomes expensive.
- Other interpretation of little perhaps referring to the amount of knowledge. For example, Einstein's famous equation regarding energy and mass denoted by E=mc^2. A simple equation that has made Albert Einstein arguably the best mathematician and scientist in the world, thus possessing so much power in his field.
- The word astonishing is defined as extremely surprising or impressive; amazing. The word must be associated with the little knowledge and so much power to complete the requirement in the PT.
- Astonishing can mean surprising and amazing. Both words give different interpretation on different occasions.
- There is no clear definition of what "little knowledge" is meant by Bertrand Russell since the word little is broad. Hence, I assume that Bertrand is referring to the amount of knowledge that a person possesses.
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