History knowledge in search of certainty and truth

History + knowledge …. in search of certainty and truth!

Strengths of history Weaknesses of history In search for certainty and truth…. . (knowledge) Cause- what? …. in search of certainty and truth! Effect- why? History + knowledge

Research Task: • Consider the outbreak of WW 1 or WW 2 or some other historical event that your group decides. Select one cause of the war/event (X) and do some research so that you can argue that (X) is the most significant cause of the war/event. • Now find a counter argument to that claim. • Evaluate the role of history in terms of this ‘knowledge’ • Tip…try and work with a historian. Task: What conclusions do you reach after your research? History + knowledge

History model

History model

History model

History model

History model

History model

History model

History model

Some TOK essays… Tok Essay 2014 (May): “Knowledge is nothing more than the systematic organisation of facts. ” Discuss this statement in relation to two areas of knowledge. Tok Essay 2014 (May): “That which is accepted as knowledge today is sometimes discarded tomorrow. ” Consider knowledge issues raised by this statement in two areas of knowledge. Tok Essay 2014 (May): “The historian’s task is to understand the past; the human scientist, by contrast, is looking to change the future. ” To what extent is this true in these areas of knowledge?

History: 2 views Shared cultural memory Lies, fable + fantasy

Theory of Knowledge: the history essay History: ‘knowledge is… systematic organisation of facts’ Facts: what are the facts? Imp kno licati wle ons dge for t Valid account he progression are ao f Invalid account The eye witness offers a primary source account of a historical event

The history model What is history? What is the function of history? H hist ow do oria es are n kno the w the tool ? Wha s t hist oria of the n? History + Knowledge How does history rely On other AOKS? How does history rely on the WOKS? Examples to generate discussion, provide evidence and support your ideas.

History: Some issues A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. History: in search of certainty and truth What and why? (facts + interpretation) Ancient vs modern history Era / Zeitgeist Problems in history Impact of Darwinism History and the individual Social determinism – historical determinism History questions Cause and effect History and ways of knowing Why study history? Making knowledge in history History + knowledge

• R. G Collingwood: • “All history is the history of thought. ” History + knowledge

1. The unsinkable ship…. history and the historian is affected by the era or the zeitgeist = ‘spirit of the age’ that influences the historian and how + what he writes as history History + knowledge

Sketches of the Titanic by a survivor. Contemporary Sketches of the Titanic by Jack Thayer: these sketches were outlined by Thayer on the day of the disaster. History + knowledge

• “Stories of the sinking of the Titanic (1912)told by the survivors by example, describe the ship having risen up by between 45 and 90 degrees from the water and crashing back down before it sunk-you have probably seen this dramatic sight depicted in movies. Yet once the ship was found (1985) the mathematicians and physicists working on the debris were able to tell us that was an impossible scenario, and that it could not have been risen more that about 12 degrees (Finton). It seems likely that the intense emotional impact of the experience understandably lead the survivors to remember the event in terms even more dramatic than it already was. (We might add that the angel of the sinking bow is still hotly disputed by people who point to old testimony, earlier drawings and other evidence. This simple underlines that historical evidence is not always straightforward. ” (Alchin + Henly, p 301) History + knowledge

• The Fishbowl: • This is a type of group discussion that can be utilized when there are two distinct positions or arguments. Each group has an opportunity to discuss the issue while the other group observes. The goal of this technique is for one group to gain insight about the other perspective by having this opportunity to listen and formulate questions. After both sides have shared and listened, students are often given the opportunity to discuss their questions and ideas with students representing the other side of the argument. History + knowledge

• Fishbowl Debate • As Napoleon has stated history is simple a fable which is agreed upon. If this is true then the world of knowledge has little use for the historian. Then why study history? • Group A: agrees • Group B: disagrees History + knowledge

Theory of Knowledge