OPTIONAL THEME:
KNOWLEDGE AND RELIGION
BIG METAPHYSICAL QUESTIONS

TOK Knowledge Questions are big questions; but they are not too big. Anchored in the real world they stop short of wild metaphysical speculation. Ever so often timeless philosophical riddles and emerge naturally in TOK classes. It can be fun; even awe inspiring to allow students a first pass or brief encounter with them. This is more than playing tennis with the net down; as long as dizzy, aimless discussion is avoided, or better—elevated.

Our short introduction to Knowledge and religion culminated in some nuanced Knowledge Questions in Very persistent meme. These questions had a scientific flavor. They stimulated provocative and fascinating lines of inquiry; but they were essentially “How” questions. Did we essentially miss the point with these questions if religion is fundamentally concerned with very big “Why” questions?


CLASS ACTIVITY—”WHY” QUESTIONS

Paul Gauguin (1897–1898) D'où venons-nous ? Que sommes-nous ? Où allons-nous ? Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Introduce the class by differentiating between How and Why questions. Set the meta-thinking frame by reminding students that what we are now at the very edge of the scope of 100 hours of TOK. Intimate that the biggest metaphysical questions are eternal by nature and there is no doubt that they will revisit their own versions of them throughout their lives.

Start the class by arranging students randomly in pairs. Initially allow a timed four minutes for exploring the following Knowledge Questions:

  • If we can show convincingly that there is a biological basis for religion—think carefully—does that change anything?

  • If we take a strictly scientific stance are the ultimate “Why” questions meaningless? Is the only remaining option silence?

These are really challenging questions. They may or may not need a little extra time. Read the room. Offer a timed two extra minutes if appropriate before moving to full class discussion. Solicit spontaneous contributions by asking: “What just happened?”

The Pillars of Creation from JWST. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI/ Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

SOME ENORMOUS PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS

Here are the enormous philosophical questions—well beyond the scope of regular TOK class—identified in the Knowledge Questions unit.

  • Why is there something rather than nothing?

  • What is the nature of time?

  • Does the universe have an ultimate purpose or meaning?

  • Is there God?

Find out what by your own students would add to this list?

Zen TOK