Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

I. Scope
this book we engage with the
Throughout
caused by incoherent expertise, or what
tension
can do when experts disagree with each other.
we
there an essential tension between the ideas of
Is
and democracy? This section explores
expertise
of authority, participation and trust in the
issues
required for democratic decisionmaking.
knowledge
We take this discussion further in II.2,
make frequent decisions to trust the
We
of experts, for example when we
knowledge
by airplane or have surgery. We trust that
travel
are in the hands of competent, qualified
we
with certified expertise and that
professionals
is checking that this is the case. These
someone
personal decisions, about which we can make
are
judgments as we navigate our daily
informed
Governance, however, includes making
lives.
and decisions on behalf of other
judgments
often on issues that require a great deal
people,
technical expertise and in situations where
of
independently, in pairs or a small
Working
identify a political issue of public
group,
that you are already familiar with or
relevance
to learn about. If you are struggling to
curious
of an issue, follow the links to two case
think
that would work well.
studies
terms: Pisani sex
Search
and HIV
drugs
link takes you to a TED Talk
This
Elizabeth Pisani on sex, drugs and HIV.
by
terms: Leslie The
Search
conspiracy
sugar
this article for the UK newspaper
In
Guardian, (7 April 2016), Ian Leslie
the
the view that sugar in our diet,
investigates
fat, is the greatest danger to our health.
andnot
there is no obvious answer. How can policy-
and politicians ensure that they base
makers
on the best knowledge available? What
decisions
the responsibilities of experts in advising
are
To what extent can citizens
decision-makers?
in these decisions by contributing
participate
evaluating claims and making
knowledge,
of where you are in the world, there
Regardless
no shortage of public policy controversies or
is
across the health sector, environmental
failures
financial markets or other areas of
protection,
In some contexts, these visible
governance.
have eroded the public’s trust in political
failings
guided by seemingly partisan
decision-making
But is there an alternative? Is there
expertise.
model of governance that addresses the
another
in knowledge and politics?
issues
TOK we concern ourselves not with
In
specific policy decisions, but with
evaluating
about how claims-makers and forms
questions
knowledge acquire legitimacy and authority,
of
how we can safeguard against bias and selfinterest
and
and learn from past mistakes.
your investigation draw on the questions we
In
encountered so far and the ones below.
have
What do you know, or what can you
1.
about the experts who guide the
imagine,
What kinds of knowledge should the
2.
possess?
experts
3. Consider which perspectives are missing or
Which groups should be invited to the
(a)
but are not currently involved?
debate
What does their absence tell us about
(b)
kinds of knowledge are valued?
which
What is the nature and extent of public
4.
in this policy decision?
participation
Which groups are most affected and what
5.
of knowledge and power do they
kinds
2
I.2 Expert knowledge and governance
judgments about competing alternatives?
which explores the “post-truth” public discourse.
For discussion
Expertise and the democratization of
knowledge in policy
people with most power on this issue?
underrepresented.
possess?
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