TOK Essay Title #4 May 25 Evidence & Breakdown [TOOLS] | Get an A in TOK
Summary
TLDRThis video provides in-depth guidance on selecting and structuring an essay around the 2025 Theory of Knowledge title: 'Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge?' The presenter breaks down approaches for organizing evidence, using both tangible and intangible tools across various disciplines, such as the internet in human sciences, algorithms in business, and CRISPR in natural sciences. The speaker emphasizes analyzing examples from multiple perspectives, highlighting that the answer is often nuanced rather than absolute, and offers practical tips and resources for viewers to excel in their essays.
Takeaways
- ๐ The speaker recommends essay title number four, emphasizing that it's an easy way to score well and encourages viewers to choose it.
- ๐ The video provides numerous notes and examples to help viewers understand the topic thoroughly, focusing specifically on human sciences.
- ๐ง The essay topic discussed revolves around whether ever-improving tools in an area of knowledge (AOK) always result in improved knowledge.
- ๐ง The speaker suggests organizing the essay by exploring different levels of correlation between improved tools and improved knowledge, rather than simply stating 'yes' or 'no'.
- ๐ก The speaker emphasizes that tools might improve knowledge, but we need to determine the degree and circumstances under which this is true.
- ๐ Examples like the internet, algorithms, and generative AI are used to show how tools sometimes improve knowledge, while at other times, they may hinder or be biased.
- ๐ฌ Various AOKs such as human sciences, natural sciences, and the arts are analyzed to explore how different tools impact the improvement of knowledge.
- ๐ถ In the arts, the creation of new genres and the use of AI in art were highlighted as tools that impact how knowledge is transmitted, with both positive and negative outcomes.
- ๐ค The speaker advises viewers to consider prior knowledge as a factor that influences whether a new tool will effectively lead to improved knowledge.
- ๐ฌ The video also provides practical examples of failed tools or tools with unintended consequences, such as radium use and biased algorithms, to highlight the importance of critical analysis in determining their true impact on knowledge.
Q & A
What is the main topic discussed in the video?
-The video discusses strategies and tools to answer the TOK essay prompt: 'Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge?' with reference to two Areas of Knowledge (AOKs).
Why does the speaker believe the answer to the essay question is 'no'?
-The speaker believes the answer is 'no' because anytime a question includes 'always' or 'never,' the answer tends to be nuanced. The speaker suggests the question should be analyzed on a spectrum, where tools may improve knowledge in some cases but not always.
What is the suggested structure for organizing the essay?
-The speaker recommends organizing the essay by examining different levels of correlation between improved tools and improved knowledge. The structure includes examples of no correlation, some correlation, and reverse correlation where improved tools might hinder knowledge.
What are some examples of tools in the human sciences that improved knowledge?
-Examples include the internet facilitating data collection, geospatial data mapping, game theory in economics, and algorithms used in hiring processes. These tools have led to improved knowledge by allowing wider reach, deeper analysis, and new methodologies.
How can tools sometimes hinder knowledge in the human sciences?
-Tools like algorithms can embed human biases, as seen in cases where algorithms used in hiring increased racial biases instead of eliminating them. Another example is the IB's use of biased algorithms for grading students, which led to unfair results.
What is an example of a tool in the natural sciences that has both improved and hindered knowledge?
-CRISPR, a tool for gene editing, has vastly improved knowledge of genetics, but ethical concerns and government regulations have sometimes hindered the progress and application of this knowledge.
How does the speaker approach the use of AI tools like ChatGPT and DALLยทE?
-The speaker views AI tools like ChatGPT and DALLยทE as examples of 'sometimes' tools. While they can generate useful information and content, they also produce inaccuracies, as seen when AI misidentified historical figures, thus showing the limitations of these tools in improving knowledge.
What example is given from the arts to show how tools might not always improve knowledge?
-An example from the arts is the use of AI to create artwork. While it may demonstrate technical skills, the speaker questions whether AI-generated art truly contributes to new knowledge or simply automates creative processes.
What is the role of new genres in improving knowledge within the arts, according to the speaker?
-The speaker suggests that the creation of new genres helps in classifying and understanding knowledge. However, the process of creating new genres does not always lead to improved knowledge and can sometimes add confusion or complexity.
What advice does the speaker give for selecting Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) in the TOK essay?
-The speaker advises choosing AOKs that provide a variety of examples and evidence. They suggest the human sciences and natural sciences as ideal choices due to the wealth of examples available, such as tools in economics or scientific methods like CRISPR.
Outlines
๐ Choose the Best Title for Your Essay
The speaker encourages viewers to select essay title number four, promising that it is a great choice for achieving a high grade. The video offers comprehensive notes and examples to help viewers, with a specific focus on human sciences. Viewers are also directed to the speaker's Fiverr store for additional help, including Zoom sessions for one-on-one assistance. The speaker highlights a breakdown of the essay title, explaining that it allows for a flexible choice of areas of knowledge (AOK). They advise organizing the essay around different degrees of correlation between tools and knowledge rather than a simple yes/no structure.
๐ง Human Sciences and the Role of Tools in Knowledge
The speaker discusses the internet and its role as a tool in human sciences, illustrating how it has improved knowledge gathering. Examples such as online surveys and geospatial data are mentioned as ways in which digital tools facilitate research and broaden access to information. However, the speaker emphasizes that while tools like the internet often improve knowledge, there are instances where they may not. They propose using contrasting examples to explore both the positive and negative effects of these tools on knowledge production.
๐ Non-Physical Tools in Human Sciences: A Deeper Dive
The focus shifts to intangible tools like theories and methods in human sciences, such as game theory and cost-benefit analysis. These non-physical tools are highlighted as consistently improving knowledge, unlike some physical tools. The speaker provides examples from economics, such as the capital asset pricing model and the transition from the gold standard to fiat money, illustrating how these intangible tools lead to knowledge growth. They suggest that non-physical tools often produce better outcomes, compared to the mixed results of physical tools.
๐ฅ๏ธ Algorithms, AI, and Their Biases in Knowledge Creation
The speaker examines the role of algorithms and AI in knowledge creation, particularly in business and education. Citing examples such as the IB exam algorithm and hiring algorithms, they argue that algorithms, while designed to remove bias, often reflect the biases of their creators. This section introduces the idea that algorithms, despite being seen as impartial tools, can sometimes worsen knowledge production by perpetuating bias. The speaker encourages critical thinking about the impact of these tools on equity and fairness.
๐งฌ Technology and Ethical Dilemmas in Natural Sciences
The speaker explores the implications of technology in natural sciences, with examples like CRISPR and DNA analysis tools. While these technologies have advanced scientific knowledge, the speaker notes that they also raise ethical concerns. The discussion includes cloning and government intervention in gene editing, questioning whether all advancements in scientific tools truly lead to better knowledge. The speaker also mentions historical examples, such as the Radium Girls, to illustrate how scientific tools sometimes cause harm instead of improving understanding.
๐ถ The Role of Tools in the Arts and Knowledge Transmission
In the final section, the speaker discusses how tools in the arts, like musical instruments and digital distribution, affect the creation and spread of knowledge. While these tools enhance creativity and careers, the speaker questions whether they improve knowledge itself. Genres, seen as tools for classifying music, are debated in terms of their role in knowledge transmission. The speaker also touches on AI-generated art, asking whether AI tools contribute to knowledge creation in the arts or merely serve as an extension of human skill.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กEver-improving tools
๐กArea of Knowledge (AOK)
๐กHuman Sciences
๐กInternet
๐กAlgorithms
๐กScientific Method
๐กNatural Sciences
๐กGame Theory
๐กCRISPR
๐กGenerative AI
Highlights
Essay title four is a popular choice, and offers many easy evidence points for discussion.
The essay question focuses on the relationship between tools of an Area of Knowledge (AOK) and improved knowledge.
A key strategy: avoid organizing the essay into simple 'yes' and 'no' answers; instead, explore the relationship between improved tools and knowledge.
The answer to the essay question is generally 'no' because tools do not always lead to improved knowledge.
The use of the internet in human sciences has made gathering information easier, but also has limitations, especially in maintaining objectivity.
Geospatial data and game theory are examples of tools that have clearly improved knowledge in human sciences.
Non-physical tools, such as theories and practices in human sciences, almost always improve knowledge due to their adaptability.
The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) in economics is an example of a tool that mitigates risk and improves knowledge in the field.
The essay should explore both tangible (physical) and intangible (theoretical) tools to assess their role in improving knowledge.
The scientific method, while an essential tool in natural sciences, may not always be seen as an ever-improving tool but remains foundational.
Technologies like CRISPR offer examples of how new tools can raise ethical questions and hinder knowledge progression.
Music instruments and digital tools are explored as examples of how new tools in the arts may not necessarily improve knowledge.
AI and generative tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E are tangible tools that sometimes improve knowledge but also risk perpetuating biases.
The discussion of algorithms in human sciences emphasizes that tools, even technological ones, may embed the biases of their creators.
To conclude, the key point is that tools, especially technological ones, can improve knowledge, but not always, and understanding the conditions where they fail is essential for a balanced argument.
Transcripts
to essay title number four made 2025 I
love love love this one if you're
struggling to pick a title let's choose
this one and get an A and get an A and T
okay okay if you haven't seen my other
videos this is just like it you want to
pause the video here you want to
download all of my notes check just
check this out look how much notes and
examples I've got for you guys it's
ridiculous I've given you more human
science notes than any other video it's
crazy if you need extra help and I know
that you do what you want to do is click
here it's going to take you to my Fiverr
store and you're going to be able to get
a hold with me um we can zoom I just
zoomed with someone last night shout out
to Laura I'm helping her out and um I
can help you pick a title I can take a
look at your essay we can do a lot and
also remember you want to look at all of
my guides here on my website and then
you also want to um if you need help
choosing a title here's all of my titles
so far you can go here help choosing a
title finally get an ent.com freestuff
we'll give you outlines and examples I
got your back but you want to know what
examples you're going to use for title 4
well let's do this okay so first of all
if you seen my title breakdown I call
this the popular one a lot of people are
going to do this do the ever improving
tools of an area of knowledge always
result in improved knowledge discussed
with reference to two AOK so if you
choose this one you want to find easy
evidence there are so many things that
you can choose here also since we're
talking about tools you're you're just
it's really easy to stay on topic here
um what's interesting is we're talking
about tools of an AOK not necessarily
knowledge in an AOK it's just does it
produce knowledge so just really easy
evidence that's why I found so much next
if you want easy organization there are
two different ways that we can do this
the easy organization is yes and no but
we're going to go a little bit beyond
that I'm going to help you out with that
then finally choose this if you want to
choose your own AOK because this one
lets you choose anything some people
like not having to worry about which
ones to choose because you just get
started really quickly this one let you
choose any a okays that's good for some
people bad for some people okay so my
tip is this do not organize into yes and
no instead we're going to look at what
at our relationship with the word always
because remember the answer is clearly
no anytime a to okay question says
always we or never we know that the
answer is no so the answer is clear no
so you want to find out the degree to
which the statement is true so it's no
but most of the time no but almost all
the time or no but sometimes so what
you're going to do is organize it in
this way there's no correlation between
improved improv tools and knowledge some
correlation you have an example where it
does create groundbreaking knowledge and
then a reverse correlation so improved
tools um made knowledge Improvement
worse made um knowledge production worse
knowledge um sharing knowledge worse
anything like that so we want to find
something that fits in all of these
examples there's many more things that
we can do we can also compare but these
are my three four different things that
I'm looking at for where maybe on a
scale or on an access the relationship
between an improved tool and improved
knowledge exists okay so with that said
let's jump into the human Sciences
remember if you haven't downloaded this
yet what are you doing okay so what I
start thinking about with Sciences is
how has the internet which we would say
is a tangible tool how has the internet
affected information gathering so um
before the internet a human scientist
would have to go talk to people hand out
paper surveys go to large crowds now
they don't have to do that so you can
look at this article to think about how
the internet has facilitated with in the
internet digital media being an Ever
improving tool how it has improved um
information and um What's the phrase
improve improved knowledge so we can
interpret that in so many different ways
so it's made it easier for example to
gather um answers so that's totally
improved knowledge also um we are able
to reach out to a wider variety of
people geographically that's going to
improve knowledge also is probably um a
yes so how can you find a way for this
to be a no that would be a really good
way because a lot of these are just like
very clearly yes and that's why there's
the always in the title
so um try to be more than just yes the
internet is
helpful okay so so what okay um I found
this one geospatial data this is new and
new in Cutting Edge tool it's using um
digital tools to map out data so the
answer with this one is also very very
clearly a yes so what you want to think
about is here's what it's doing here's
how it's improving knowledge and how
could it not lead to a knowledge about
humans and Society um I think I really
think it's going to so what we want to
think with both of these is that um or
what we could draw the conclusion that
we could draw is that um the internet is
in the human Sciences almost always
going to lead to an improvement in
knowledge um some other tools I'm trying
to get a little bit a little bit deeper
than just the ones that came to the top
of my head so game theory developed in
1950s and it has been improving it has
definitely led to improved knowledge so
do new methods of thinking
new methods of thinking um across the
human Sciences always lead to improved
knowledge this is where I might be
leaning towards a yes because what I'm
doing here and you'll see this in the
next examples I bring up these
intangible tools so practices or methods
which definitely are tools in the human
Sciences they're they're not going to be
used if they don't lead to um truth
they're not going to be used if they
don't improve knowledge so the answer
for in immaterial to tools in the human
Sciences might actually be yes and
that's where we can get kind of
interesting okay um looking at economics
the capital asset pricing model it's a
tool in economics which creates the
knowledge of what is needed to mitigate
risk so this is what I just said I was
getting ahead of myself yes do
non-physical tools always lead to an
improvement in knowledge so maybe that's
where we're going to go a physical a
physical tool such as the internet not
physical but tangible tool um might be
something that sometimes improves
knowledge but when we get to um theories
and practices and methods um maybe that
always does or almost always does
another Simple Thing cost benefit
analysis you can't hold it but it's used
everywhere outside of the human Sciences
now um that's always going to lead to an
improvement in knowledge right sticking
with economics the gold standard would
be a tool a monetary tool versus Fiat
money I think it's Fiat you I don't know
how to pronounce that word that's kind
of weird but think about these tools
that were good so the gold standard was
a good way of of of Economics of
money I don't even know what I'm saying
it was a good way of um understanding
how money works but then now what we're
thinking about is that nobody's on the
gold standard anymore um we've proven
that it's not what you want to do so
this this tool has been improved upon so
did this ever improving tool that's
where we're at
now um did it increase knowledge did it
increase efficiency do we now know more
about money and trade and economics
because we've moved to this new tool of
valuing resources I would say yes um
another thing this is very popular
remember we want to stay away from just
talking about John Mayor canes and his
um his methods of um economics because
everybody does that it's like the first
thing that you learn at Econ I think so
we don't want to do that but we want we
can look at one of his methods versus a
Philips curve both of these models help
create through prediction do they always
improve knowledge once we learn more
about society and human behavior so when
we have these tools they're really good
basically until they're not so when are
they improving knowledge do they
continue to improve knowledge probably
not so what stops these tools from
continuing to improve knowledge is it
that we have new knowledge is it the
tool is really narrow and specific for a
certain time that's one of the things
that you can think about okay I love
this one uh I think a lot of people are
going to use this just because um from
this one idea there's many different
ways to go algorithms in human science
um watch this I think it's like a how
long is this video yeah it's only 13
minutes and it has just one of the
greatest quotes that we've got about um
algorithms algorithms are are opinions
embedded in code so watch this video
you'll get more examples from this video
than just the examples I give here but
basically the the thesis is that because
opinionated people create the algorithms
my opinions my leanings my biases are
inherent in those algorithms so what
happened uh I love this the IB used
algorithms in 2020 when they um
cancelled exams did I spell disastrous I
did and um my students got screwed
straight up my students got screwed
shout out to them but they're not
watching this video because the
algorithm was so biased um and so this
is a case study on just what went wrong
with the IB and then a and algorithmic
hiring practices in the business world
so business Sciences have led to
increased racism so they tried to
use they tried to use algorithms to take
the people out of the hiring process to
become more Equitable but the opposite
happened the programers inherent biases
were inside the code so many different
things there and then in this video you
will get even more example she shares
one that she was involved in where she
was told you can't have access to this
um it was in law you can't have access
to this because it's proprietary it's
our business's um intellectual property
so we don't even have to share it with
you so algorithms are totally biased
even though we think they're just code
they're just maths no they're not okay
let's go down oh no there's one more
I've got so many different things here
if you want to say thanks get a hold of
me on Fiverr you can chat me up you can
order something we can zoom I had a zoom
last night I have another one tonight at
10:00 let's go May 2025 Chap gbt and
generative AI oh I love this one this is
the tangible tool that could be used to
support a sometimes perspective and you
can use your own personal example here
think about how it can write an essay
for you you can totally cheat that's
great but then it thought that famous
white people were black so look at um
Bard this now called Gemini because Bard
was such a disaster but basically oh
there's no images here oh that's
terrible you'll find them but basically
a Bard was programmed with biases to not
show white people so when you Googled
like give me a picture of the of the
king of England it was black people show
me the founding fathers of America they
were um Asians so it can do many things
to improve knowledge like teach me
things but then it can also not always
improve knowledge by giving me things
that aren't true so chat GPT I'm going
to write
Bard doll e and we're going to come to
that one too and generative AI would
definitely be a sometimes perspective
and remember because we can um very
clearly support a sometimes perspective
the answer to the actual title is no
because they're asking always so we're
going to say no but often with this kind
of tool that's where a top score is
going to go okay so many things let's
move on to what's next Natural Sciences
okay I would not make this a main
paragraph but the scientific method
remember it is a tool now is it an Ever
improving tool I'm not really sure but I
think you can say somewhere that this is
the main tool that scientists use I like
this quote science is is a way of
thinking a tool more than it is a body
of knowledge so just keep that in mind
okay but when we got physical tools
which is what we're really thinking
about in The Natural Sciences because
their their soft their intangible tool
would be the scientific method of all of
these tools will provide simple but
shallow examples of when improved tools
led to improve knowledge so how can you
think about the implications and effects
of technology and go beyond yes so
you're going to say yes and here's what
we can learn about technology here's a
lesson here's an implication when we
think about crisper this is a good
sometimes because we think about how DNA
was first analyze it was it's crazy what
people were able to do without
technology so click this article here
and learn about how DNA was first
isolated it's wild so an Ever improving
tool for isolating and analyzing DNA but
then you can talk about how could the
ethical issues be considered not an
improvement in knowledge how could the
um these tools be hindering knowledge
and remember also the biggest hindrance
in DNA um Gene editing is actually
government so think about that one okay
uh similar to crisper how are tools used
for cloning creating and inhibiting
knowledge another big one oo I just got
an order on Fiverr as I am recording
this video that's really cool they're
chatting me up I don't know what their
name is I can't tell cuz my phone is
sideways but thanks for ordering with me
on Fiverr fiverr.com patre freaking
Jones I got your back I love this one
I've only seen a couple people do this
um you can Google the radium girls this
is a huge controversy um radium people
thought was a tool for curing so many
different things it would make metal
glow inth dark well it actually killed
people like crazy destroyed them
physically and then killed them so they
thought it was a huge tool in curing
disease it wasn't um and there's so many
things just like this okay so it did not
improve knowledge they thought it was
improving knowledge of curing diseases
it just killed people mostly women it
was really sad okay weather control I
really like this one because in
Indonesia where I used to live they
thought that they could just anybody
could grab like a laser and shoot the
clouds and cause it to be sunny I don't
know but cloud seating is now considered
effective that's totally a lot of people
do that by dropping dry ice in clouds
but other tools let me say in the past
were used to try and control the weather
they failed because of lack of
foundational knowledge of how the
atmosphere works so maybe that's how an
improved tool improves knowledge you
have you have to have a ground a
groundwork of of knowledge first and
then the tool improves knowledge so if
you have no knowledge but you have a
tool is that tool going to improve
knowledge probably not but if you have
some knowledge and then you have a tool
it probably will that's a approach that
I would take towards everything and see
how that works out with um prior
knowledge and then a tool improving on
that prior knowledge what happens okay
we're going to go to the Arts I've got a
couple of different things here first I
love this um instruments are constantly
being created every every year um and
these are a bunch of really interesting
ones so though they are tools and
they're creating new music not
necessarily new knowledge do they create
and facilitate the spread of improved
knowledge so again we have a physical
tool I don't know how much knowledge
this physical tool is actually improving
digital music has digital music
distribution helped to improve knowledge
it's helped to improve careers it's
helped to improve creativity but is it
improving knowledge in some ways yes and
in some ways no really interesting I
love genres you know this if you've
looked at my other videos so genres are
a way of collecting and understanding
knowledge do they always improve it so
this one right here is about how new
genres are created when a new genre is
created that's a new tool for
classifying oh I want to write that word
collecting classifying I export this PDF
after I make the videos and
understanding knowledge so are we always
improving knowledge transmission by
creating new genres or is it making it
more confusing interesting last one I
got I told you we were going to get to
Dolly an artist used AI to win an art
competition does this improve or share
or produce knowledge at all what is the
role of AI in creating knowledge in the
art and so that's going to come up to
the a big piece of advice I share in
like every video when I talk about the
Arts just creating an artwork we don't
want to say that's creating knowledge
because that's not necessarily true so
instead we want to think is AI art
sharing knowledge at all is it improving
knowledge at all the artist who said
this said he is demonstrating his skill
and his knowledge by working with the
computer just like I might work with
some paints um I can get that but we
want to think about how did this
improved tool we we go from computers
just helping as type to creating AB like
huge pieces of art that tool improved
how did that or did it at all improve
knowledge um I'd argue that it didn't
but I would love to see examples of how
it did disagree with me disagree with
yourself that's a key for the to essay
if you need more help I got you right
here at the very top click here you can
go to my Fiverr store fiverr.com patre
and Jones get some free examples and get
an.com freestuff check out my website
check out my channel I hope that TK
sucks a little bit less than it did at
the end of this video I'll see you in my
next one
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