ToK Review: The BIG Picture in Minutes

In this podcast we tackle the human sciences, beginning with an examination of their scope, and contrasting the human sciences to other Areas of Knowledge. Next, the podcast attempts to deconstruct the traditional theory of the human sciences, drawing on the work of John Kemeny from his book A Philosopher looks at Science. This lays the groundwork for a more sophisticated understanding of how the human sciences operate. This new understanding is the applied to two very different types of investigation in the human sciences, those of economics and psychology. (This is an earlier podcast—I was able to balance the sound levels better, but there is some cable noise I could not fix)

This podcasts focuses on the arts, and begins by considering what is the subject matter of the arts, and what are their contributions to knowledge. The ways of knowing in the arts are examined, and the issue of how the arts produce knowledge is reviewed. We will consider how we evaluate art, and ask to what degree is there a "method" to the arts? Finally the podcast will examine four interrelated methods for developing informed opinion within the arts. The show concludes with an examination of to what degree we may develop standards for shared knowledge in the arts.

Our review of mathematics begins with a consideration of the scope of mathematics, and compares mathematics to other areas of knowledge. The question of whether math is real or discovered is considered, and the curious relation of abstract thought and its persistent relevance to the natural world is examined. The structure of mathematical knowledge is explored, using John Kemeny's A Philosopher Looks at Science as our guide. The ways of knowing are detailed, and the podcast concludes with an historic overview of the mathematical quest for certainty.

We begin the podcast by considering the nature of God, and to what degree proofs for the existence of God or Gods are a productive approach to understanding religion. After examining the limitations of this approach, the podcast investigates two alternate approaches, evidentialism and pluralism, and again the strengths and limitations of each approach is evaluated. From this discussion a set of criterion for evaluating religious claims is developed. This is incorporated in the third approach, that of reformed epistemology. Finally the nature of religious truth is examined. (Part of the podcast was recorded during a rainstorm, providing an unintended background track.)

We begin the podcast by considering the scope of history and the unique set of issues that it involves. Next historical research methods are investigated in order to determine what type of truth history yields. This is done in part by comparing it to other areas of knowledge. The primary tools of history—selectivity, simultaneity, and scale-and their implications are discussed., drawing again upon the metaphor ofcartography. Next, the podcast reviews how we evaluate historical claims by examining historical systems of knowledge—directional, cyclical, linear, great man theories, topic-focused theories, and the history of ideas approach. In contrast to these, the challenge postmodernism presents historical analysis will be discussed. All of this is designed to provide a more accurate and balanced view of history and the knowledge that it produces.