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

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7, section II, explores AIDS public healthChapterin South Africa. Chapter 9, section II, looks atpolicywork of expert commissions between countriestheresolve conicting histories. Comparing thesetowhat is the role of politics and how does itexamples,the credibility and authority of experts?aectconfidence in the fact that TOK is notTakein exploring issues of expertise andaloneknowledge. Questions about these issuespublicfundamental to protecting the citizen’sareissues are discussed by people andPoliticalwith various levels of power; they sharegroupsopinions, make claims with various degreestheirconfidence and make judgments about theofand validity of other perspectives. Thisreliabilitythe public discourse. How can youcharacterizesdifferent perspectives? How aware areevaluateof the forces that have shaped your politicalyouWhat would be sufficiently convincingviews?change your mind? As we proceed, recall thetoin Chapter 1 on intellectual humilitydiscussionsII.2) and thinking patterns and habits (in III.1).(inshapes depending on the context anddifferentconstraints. If you are curious about whatthediscussion looks like elsewhere, followthislink to an excellent conversation on publictheand the forces that shape it. HearknowledgeAmita Baviskar, from the Institute offromGrowth in New Delhi, and RifkaEconomicfrom the University of StrasbourgWeehuizen,for Advanced Study. They discussInstituteexpert and layperson knowledge canhowintegrated into a relationship based onbevalues and participation.democraticterms: public knowledgeSearchobjectivity andacademicsmart way to keep people passive and obedientTheto strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion,isallow very lively debate within that spectrum—butencourage the more critical and dissident views.evengives people the sense that there’s free thinkingThaton, while all the time the presuppositions of thegoingare being reinforced by the limits put on thesystemof the debate.rangeII. PerspectivesI. ScopeII. PerspectivesMaking connectionsPolitics in science and historyvoice in government, and the answers taketeaching profit motivationI I . P E R S P E C T I V E SII.1 The Overton window(Chomsky 1998)29

II. Perspectives“Overton window” is a term used toThethe range of ideas tolerated withindescribediscourse and, therefore, the range ofpublicand politically acceptable policies insociallygovernment. Policies outside of thisdemocraticwill appear too extreme—“unthinkable”range“radical”—to be supported by politicians.orwindow is shaped by the climate of publicTheand so the media can play a very largeopinion,Note that the window does not necessarilyrole.near the middle of the political spectrum.sitpoliticians, social commentators andSkillfulin the public sphere can intentionallyactivistsor expand the window through reasonshiftrhetoric. Some may deliberately promoteandideas so that slightly less extremeextremewhich were previously outside theideas,become more widely accepted bywindow,Think tanks, for example, needcomparison.promote particular policies but can rathernotout of the Overton windowLookingHow do we know where the Overton1.Would you expect two strangers to agree2.what is inside the window? Why oraboutAre there some ideas, policies or issues that3.not be politicized? If so, how wouldshouldCompare the relative power of the following4.to shift the window: socialstakeholdersorganizations, cinema, search engines,mediaand television media; teachers,print5. Recall an example of the window shifting.was previously unacceptable,Whatis now policy, and vice versa?butmake previously unacceptable policies moretoThis tactic is often used by activistpalatable.is worth noting that the Overton window isItnecessarily a passive construct but rathernotassertive and dynamic one—a tool to shapeanshift political possibilities. Its point is thatand“window is there for the shifting”, and thusthenaturalizes ideas and policies as inherentlyitSome observers lament this sort ofpolitical.arguing for instance that climate justicething,women’s rights should not be politicized,andthese issues “speak for themselves”; weasnext section explores echo chambersThebubbles, or how the internet mayandfiltercontributing to increased polarizationbepluralism, by allowingandreducedengage only with content theyindividualstowith. agreeShould we suspend new or radical ideas6.judgment, for a grace period, untilfrompeople have had a chance to considermorethem?To what extent do you agree that an7.of the Overton window is a signexpansionTo what extent is it unethical for politicians8.thought leaders to support ideasandpolicies that they do not believe in,andthe goal of expanding or shifting thewithIf you had the influence, what ideas would9.bring into the Overton window?youTo what extent has the internet, through10.media and online discussionsocialchanged the nature of publicgroups,and the Overton window?discourse2groups too.interrogate that perspective in I.1.focus on shifting the window of possibilities,For discussionwindow is?why not?of progress?we achieve that?window of public discourse?journalists, influencers and politicians.(a)(b)What may have caused this?30

7, section II, explores AIDS public health

Chapter

in South Africa. Chapter 9, section II, looks at

policy

work of expert commissions between countries

the

resolve conicting histories. Comparing these

to

what is the role of politics and how does it

examples,

the credibility and authority of experts?

aect

confidence in the fact that TOK is not

Take

in exploring issues of expertise and

alone

knowledge. Questions about these issues

public

fundamental to protecting the citizen’s

are

issues are discussed by people and

Political

with various levels of power; they share

groups

opinions, make claims with various degrees

their

confidence and make judgments about the

of

and validity of other perspectives. This

reliability

the public discourse. How can you

characterizes

different perspectives? How aware are

evaluate

of the forces that have shaped your political

you

What would be sufficiently convincing

views?

change your mind? As we proceed, recall the

to

in Chapter 1 on intellectual humility

discussions

II.2) and thinking patterns and habits (in III.1).

(in

shapes depending on the context and

different

constraints. If you are curious about what

the

discussion looks like elsewhere, follow

this

link to an excellent conversation on public

the

and the forces that shape it. Hear

knowledge

Amita Baviskar, from the Institute of

from

Growth in New Delhi, and Rifka

Economic

from the University of Strasbourg

Weehuizen,

for Advanced Study. They discuss

Institute

expert and layperson knowledge can

how

integrated into a relationship based on

be

values and participation.

democratic

terms: public knowledge

Search

objectivity and

academic

smart way to keep people passive and obedient

The

to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion,

is

allow very lively debate within that spectrum—

but

encourage the more critical and dissident views.

even

gives people the sense that there’s free thinking

That

on, while all the time the presuppositions of the

going

are being reinforced by the limits put on the

system

of the debate.

range

II. Perspectives

I. Scope

II. Perspectives

Making connections

Politics in science and history

voice in government, and the answers take

teaching profit motivation

I I . P E R S P E C T I V E S

II.1 The Overton window

(Chomsky 1998)

29

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