TOK Talk

2026 TOK Essay Title 2: To what extent do you agree that doubt is central to the pursuit of knowledge? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

This title seems to pick up in the middle of a debate about the nature of knowledge, and how it has shifted over time… particularly with the 21st century focus on STEM, and a scientific approach to knowledge. For me, as an art teacher, the idea that doubt is essential to the pursuit of knowledge is counter-intuitive, even corrosive; how can one create without a measure of belief? I recognized the deep, conflicting roles doubt plays in our two fields. To bridge that ideological gap and truly understand the scientific methodology, I pulled a brilliant Physics teacher away from his formulas and into a necessary conversation.

Guest: Mr. Saif Ullah (Physics Teacher)

Music: Julia Shi performing Claude Debussy, Feb 2025

2026 TOK Essay Title 1: In the production of knowledge, does it matter that observation is an essential but flawed tool? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge. The premise of the 2026 TOK Essay Title 1—that observation, the bedrock of science, is also inherently flawed—demanded a rigorous inquiry. To understand the stakes, I sat down with a science expert to challenge the maxim, 'seeing 'is believing.' Our discussion was a deep dive into the mechanisms of scientific knowledge: how the very act of observation is shaped by the techniques and tools we use; what the true nature of these perceptual flaws is; and the intricate methods developed to 'correct' for human and technical bias. This conversation reveals why this foundational vulnerability is not a weakness to be hidden, but a critical, defining characteristic of the natural sciences.

Guest: Dr. Simon Griffin

Music: Rhea Ng and Delphine Wu, Feb 2025

A fantastic professional learning workshop this week at our school led to a follow-up conversation with John Sprague, renowned TOK textbook writer and teacher. We wanted to delve deeper into the practical strategies he uses to help students master their essays. One highlight for our teaching team was Sprague’s insightful framing of "knowledge communities." He helped us see that this concept is inherently inclusive: anyone involved with a subject—from a novice apprentice to a seasoned expert—is a vital part of that community. We realized this perspective could fundamentally change how students view their work. This podcast distills that transformative idea and other key wisdom from the workshop to benefit both TOK teachers and their students.

Guest: John Sprague

Music: Mary Ji performing Étude op.4 no.3 by Karol Szymanowski

Title 4: Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge

Guest: Dr. Simon Griffin

Sounds: Lamma beach

2025 TOK Essay Title 3: How can we reconcile the relentless drive to pursue knowledge with the finite resources we have available? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge

Guest: Kevin Hoye

Sounds: Hong Kong Birds and Traffic in the morning

2025 TOK Essay Title 1: Do historians and human scientists have an ethical obligation to follow the directive: “do not ignore contradictory evidence”? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.

Guest: Quinn Fontaine

Sounds: Sri Lankan rainforest in the morning

2025 TOK Essay Title 2: Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge

Guest: Janka van Jaarsveld

Sounds: Sri Lankan rainforest in the morning

2025 TOK Essay Title 6: Does acquiring knowledge destroy our sense of wonder? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge

Guest: Bob Scheer

Sounds: Sri Lankan rainforest at midnight

2025 TOK Essay Title 5: To what extent do you agree with the claim “all models are wrong, but some are useful” (attributed to George Box)? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

Guest: Rob Bradshaw

Sounds: Sri Lankan street musicians

不同的信仰体系如何影响我们的知识?

In this bilingual podcast, we explore the complex relationship between belief systems and our understanding of the world. We examine various belief frameworks, including the Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian traditions, to explore if it is even possible to fully recognize the extent to which our underlying beliefs influence what we know and how we act. Join us as we delve into a short, sweet, yet deep conversation about our value systems and understanding how they shape our knowledge about others and the world. We hope this gets you thinking as you go about your day, and give you a chance to consider: How do your values influence your knowledge?

Guests: Dr. Bill Mak, Sun Laoshi