There are two types of knowledge taught in the ToK course. These are shared and personal knowledge.
Learning about each type enables you to understand just how interpretative knowledge is, particularly since it’s subject to biases subject to revision, rejection, or retention. To be abundantly clear, the Theory of Knowledge course doesn’t focus on what’s right and what’s wrong. Instead, the focus is on a balanced approach to knowledge claims.
In this guide, we define personal and shared knowledge, explain how they differ, and highlight their relationship with each other. Once you understand these concepts, it will be easier for you to appreciate the nature of knowledge in other people’s culture and in your very own.
What is Personal Knowledge?
In the Theory of Knowledge, personal knowledge refers to the unique understanding shaped by individual experiences, beliefs, values, and perceptions.
Despite its diversity and breadth, personal knowledge is susceptible to biases and uninformed opinions, and the biases and opinions can inherently obscure the ability to discern true knowledge.
Because the course and ToK teachers alike acknowledge that biases arise from limited perspectives, a continual evaluation and refinement of personal knowledge are essential for its growth. And given that personal knowledge is malleable, reflecting on it can greatly enhance the understanding derived from our beliefs, experiences, perceptions, and values.
What is Shared Knowledge?
Shared knowledge is the information we gain from society and our communities, distinct from our personal experiences. It encompasses a wide array of subjects including historical events, scientific theories, mathematical concepts, and cultural norms.
From an early age, we start accumulating shared knowledge through education, media exposure, and cultural practices.
Shared knowledge is not without its limitations. Cultural biases and societal norms can influence the formation of this knowledge, as interpretations of events may differ based on the cultural perspectives of those involved. Therefore, shared knowledge necessitates critical evaluation to discern its validity and reliability.
Is Personal Similar to Shared Knowledge?
Persona and shared knowledge interact with each other to make interaction in education interesting. However, there are differences between them, as outlined in the following table:
| Aspect | Personal Knowledge | Shared Knowledge |
| Scope | It comes from personal experiences, beliefs, and perceptions. | Shared knowledge comes from collective wisdom, shared experiences, ideas, and insights of society. |
| Example | A good example would be an understanding of the IB curriculum on a personal level. | The curriculum’s structure, content, and guidelines created by IB educators are examples of shared knowledge. |
| Impact | Personal knowledge shapes your worldviews and beliefs, and it guides your actions. | The knowledge influences our societal norms, public opinion, and policy decisions on a larger scale. |
| Evaluation | Personal knowledge is subjective. Thus, it has biases based on personal experiences. | Shared knowledge is objective because it passes through validation and scrutiny by a larger community. |
Personal and shared knowledge are not isolated entities but rather interact and mutually influence each other. Thus, these two knowledge forms foster dynamic learning. They intertwine to shape your understanding of the world and allow a continuous exchange of ideas and perspectives that enrich the knowledge framework. Thus, rather than being mutually exclusive, they coexist and complement each other, and contribute to a holistic learning experience.
What’s the Role of Theory of Knowledge?
Theory of Knowledge offers a platform to explore and contemplate the essence of knowledge. By studying ToK, you gain insight into your ideological and personal predispositions and you develop a heightened awareness that enables you to appreciate the richness and diversity of distinct cultural perspectives.
ToK encourages you to view yourself as critical thinkers. It enables you to appreciate the complexity of knowledge. And it makes it easier to promote mindful and credible application of knowledge.
It’s worth noting that ToK has two assessment tasks: an essay and an exhibition:
ToK Exhibition
The ToK exhibition replaced the presentation in 2020. The assessment accounts for 33% of the final grades, and it requires you to think as a present-day knower and maintain a strong connect to your leaner profile.
- Purpose: Your focus should be on showing how ToK manifests itself in the real world. Knowledge and the knower is the foundational theme in this assessment
- Requirements: Choose one of the IA prompts, find three objects with real-world context, conduct individual research, and write a comprehensive commentary to demonstrate engagement to concepts learned in your classroom.
ToK Essay
To write a good ToK essay,you should first understand the purpose and the requirements of the assessment.
- Purpose: The purpose of the essay is to reflect on the nature of knowledge. It also looks at how we know what we claim to know.
- Requirement: You’ll write only one essay. It should be on one of the titles provided by IB for the year. The assessment should adhere to the word count, which is no more than 1,600 words long.
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