WAYS OF KNOWING: FAITH
We make sense of the world through eight ways of knowing: language, reason, sense perception, memory, faith, intuition, imagination and emotion. On this page, you will find articles, clips, PowerPoints and links on faith as a WOK.
Possible essay questions:
- To what extent are areas of knowledge shaped by their past? Consider with reference to two areas of knowledge. (Specimen 2015)
- To what extent do ways of knowing prevent us from deluding ourselves? Justify your answer with reference to at least one area of knowledge. (Specimen 2015)
- With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape personal knowledge. (May 2015)
- “Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgments.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (May 2015)
- “No knowledge can be produced by a single way of knowing.” Discuss. (November 2015)
- “Ways of knowing operate differently in personal and shared knowledge.” Assess this claim. (November 2016)
FAITHFaith is arguably one of the more disputed Ways of Knowing amongst teachers, students and expert philosophers or theologians. The meaning of the word 'faith' depends on its interpretation by the knower and it may or not may have religious connotations. One's faith is highly dependent on our culture and the knowledge community we belong to. The relative and subjective nature of faith provides fuel for lively discussions on whether or not we should include faith as a Way of Knowing. Should we ever use faith as a justification to a knowledge claim? Nevertheless, 'faith' can mean several things. In addition to its interpretation as a 'subjective commitment of belief', it may also refer to the notions of trust, commitment and the 'acceptance of assumptions' (Theory of Knowledge Course Companion, 2013). It is also essential to analyse the relationship between faith and the other Ways of Knowing and Areas of Knowledge. The TOK guide, for example, questions whether faith may fulfill a psychological need. Language plays an invaluable role in the context of faith and religious knowledge. The emphasis on 'the word' in sacred texts and the revelation of divine knowledge through language in religion underlines this point. In addition, one could argue that through language, one's faith can be sharpened or awakened. But how can we reconcile faith with reason and the need for justification of knowledge claims? Kierkegaard, a Christian philosopher, explains how to him religious belief does not need nor desire indisputable evidence. In this sense, faith is 'belief that rejects the need for justification' (Oxford Course companion, 2013). From a TOK point of view, one could explore the validity of theistic knowledge. Does such knowledge derive from a special cognitive ability or 'divine sense'? If so, are non-religious or 'non faithful' people less knowledgeable? Just as relativism is problematic in the field of ethics, the issue of religious divide and the problem of religious relativism provides much food for thought. Could we argue that faith is irrational, incoherent and consequently not valid as a Way of Knowing? Finally, some very interesting knowledge questions regarding faith, value judgement, methodology and validation can be explored in Theory of Knowledge classes.
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Faith versus reason explained through margarine'Sea of faith': Faith explained by philosophers. You can find other episodes of the series on youtube
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