Core Theme Questions (DP IB Theory of Knowledge): Revision Note

This question focuses on the methods you use to form knowledge, such as:

• perception

• memory 

• language 

• reason 

• intuition

• emotion

The question asks you to consider how reliable each method is and what limitations or biases it might introduce

Thinking about this question helps you to understand why you feel confident about some knowledge claims but uncertain about others

This question highlights the sources that provide most of your knowledge, including: 

• experience

• family

• culture

• school 

• media 

• technology and algorithms

• experts

It encourages you to think about how trustworthy these sources are and why some sources have more authority than others

You belong to several communities of knowers, such as:

• your family 

• your demographics (gender, age, race, religious group etc.)

• cultural groups 

• national community

• school classes

• online communities

The communities that you belong to may influence how knowledge is prioritised and which authorities are trusted

Reflecting on your communities of knowers helps you to see how your perspectives are shaped by group membership as well as by individual experience