Theory of Knowledge at McGivney

Kobo eBook (click here)
Kindle Edition (click here)
Print version (click here)

Kobo eBook (click here)
Kindle Edition (click here)
Print version (click here)

Kobo eBook (click here)
Kindle Edition (click here)
Print version (click here)

(Soon)

The Following ppt must be read and studied by all TOK students

PowerPoint on How to Write a Paragraph and an Essay (download now)
IB Rubrics (TOK Essay - long version) (short version)
TOK Essay Exemplars (calm your fears and read some of these)
Prescribed titles from previous years (2007; 2008; 2010; 2011; 2013)
new How to Write a TOK Essay: 6 Basic Steps (please read this twice)
Exam Comments 2012 (please read if you have not already done so)
Presentation Planning Form
TOK Points (important)

Initial Readings

What in the World is Philosophy?
Summary Notes on Certitude and Necessity
Some Points on Knowledge and Opinion
Summary Notes on Truth
Summary Notes on Chance, Relativity, and Change
A Note on Dependence and Independence
Interview with Thomas Sowell
Intellectuals, by Thomas Sowell
Arts and Letters Daily (read on...)
Thomas Sowell Website


Summary Notes on First Principles Logic Logical Fallacies Inductive Reasoning The Problem of the One and the Many Concept Formation Some Thoughts on Concepts and the Immateriality of the Mind Levels of Abstraction A Note on Analogy A Commentary on Design and the "God of the gaps" new A Universe from Nothing? Review by David Albert	What is Science? Why Scientism is false The Humility of Science What is wrong with Reductionism? Further Thoughts on Reductionism and Self-Knowledge Thoughts on Sensation, Intelligence, and Brain Activity Some Notes on Final Causality and Purpose in Nature Why it is Impossible to Deny the Principle of Causality on the Basis of Quantum Mechanics Some Notes on Knowledge, Science, and Culture The Permanent Limitations of Biology Brain Drain What it means to be human The Falsification Principle
The Problem of Perception Optical Illusions (do they tell us anything?) Two Gestalt Switches	A Note on Mathematical Infinity Chance and Spontaneity Some Thoughts on Mathematical Knowing Thoughts on Probability and Abstraction Lying Statistics Political Statistics Suspicious Statistics
How the Virtues Perfect the Emotions Some Points on Connatural Knowledge Thoughts on How Emotions Affect Judgment A Thought on the Relationship between Judging Others and the Emotions A Thought on Emotion and the Bonum Universale Thoughts on Bigotry "Everything We Say Is Biased"	Inclination to God and the Moral Sense The Science of Ethics and Connatural Knowledge Self-Knowledge and the Fundamentals of Ethics The Elements of the Human Act First Principles of Practical Reason The Virtue of Prudence The Virtue of Justice The Virtue of Temperance The Virtue of Fortitude A Note on Final Causality in Human Action Some connections between knowledge claims and morality The Radiance of Personhood and the Splendor of Chastity Sexual Activity in Perspective Is a Disabled Child Human?
Abstract Language vs. the Incarnate Word Linguistic Analysis (Brian MaGee) Politics and the English Language,by George Orwell The Poetic Syllogism	What Makes Norman Rockwell Possible? Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder? Creative Intuition Tolkein and Lord of the Rings The decline of laughter Beauty and the Best Art, Beauty, and Judgment Beauty and its Corruptions Why Beauty Matters (BBC Video)
Knowing by Faith Knowledge and Purity Texts on Supernatural Faith Selections from Pascal on Reason and the Heart	Is it possible to know history? Is there such a thing as a historical fact? V. E. Smith on the Nature of History Cornwell on Pope Benedict XVI Response: Father Robert Barron on Cornwell The Church and Science (Thomas Woods) Popper on historicism
Thoughts Levels of Abstraction Truth in Perspective Some Thoughts on the Value of Silence Can two people be right? A Thought on Theories A Thought on the Political Left and Right Food for Thought	A Note on the Difference between Man and Brute The Shortest Proof for the Immateriality of the Mind Eudaemonia and the Good Life Click here to register for the Via Strenghts Test Via Strengths Character Test Myers Briggs Personality Test

*Presentation Planning Document 2012 (you must download this and fill it out before doing the presentation--note it consists of two pages)

Here are some samples of filled out PPDs and filled out Marking forms. I also did some quick brainstorming just to show you how easy it is to plan this presentation. It took me no time at all.

Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 4
Sample 4 marked
Sample 5
Sample 5 marked
Sample 6
Sample 6 marked
Sample 7
Sample 7 marked
Sample 8 together with marked doc.

Be sure to read the paper or watch the news (especially the National Post). You'll come across something that strikes you and you should try to wonder about the knowledge implications of whatever it is that interests you. Remember, personal discoveries, or "aha moments" can and should be made into a presentation (if something clicked, if something happened that made you realize that there really are different ways of knowing, or a personal experience made you realize something, etc.).

Interview with David Berlinski (very worth listening to) new
To Think or Not to Think, by Dr. F. F. Centore (my former professor) read on... new
The Olympics (article)
Prescribed Essay Titles for 2013 May
Articles on the Importance of Doubt