Theory of Knowledge Lesson One:!!! The Map is not the Territory. One of the key questions of/for this course is:!!!! How do we know?

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1 Theory of Knowledge 3813 Lesson One:!!! The Map is not the Territory One of the key questions of/for this course is:!!!! How do we know? Two of the key components of/for this course are:!!!! OPEN MIND!!!! CRITICAL THINKING (assign Thomas King...Borders with the following question:)!! WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD BORDERS?!! What type of noun is the word, ʻborderʼ; concrete or abstract...explain. Learning about mapping our world: Paradox of cartography:!if a map is to be useful. It will be imperfect.!!!! To draw to scale serves no long term purpose Latitude:! circles parallel to the equator; running east to west: Longitude:! lines running perpendicular to the equator, running from north to south;!! North Pole to South Pole

2 equator:! intersection of a sphereʼs surface with the plane perpendicular to the!! sphereʼs axis of rotation and midway between poles The Equator:! imaginary line equidistant from North and South Poles Polar map:! (azimuthal equidistant projection)!! A map projection of the earth designed so a straight line from the central!! point on the map to any other point gives the shortest distance between!! the two points

3 ! Oblique map:! (note: intuitively, portions of the surface nearer the touching regions!!! depart less from the original spherical shell; the corresponding!!! portions are more faithfully reproduced)!!! Has neither the polar axis nor the equatorial plane aligned with the!!! projection system Equatorial map:! is centred at the Equator; set horizontally across the mapʼs major!!! axes

4 Central meridian:! the line of longitude that defines the centre, and often, the x-origin!!! of a projected co-ordinate system

5 Prime meridian: lines of longitude defined to be form a great circle; a great circle (Riemannian circle) divides the sphere into two hemispheres; also known as an orthodome; intersection of sphere and plan passing through the centre of the sphere; applicable to flight paths

6 Rhumb line:!a line crossing all meridians of longitude at the same angle; also known as!! a loxodrome; upon taking initial bearing, one proceeds along the same!! bearing without changing the directions as measured relative to true!! (magnetic) north Plane of projection:! type of view in which graphical projections from an object!!!! intersect (descriptive geometry and graphical!!!! representations) Distortion:! the transfer of information from a curved surface to a flat surface, losing!! accuracy; a change in shape, size, position as shown on a map WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MAPS? (ascertain relative position navigation; illustrate geographical features; represent the relationship between the physical world and information; ie, the spread of disease; population growth; human migrations; religious demarcations, etc). When considering a variety of maps, consider the following questions:!!! What is emphasized in maps?!!! What is your map of the world?!!! What is the centre?!!! What is your understanding of the Mercator Map?

7 (originally used for navigation; emerged from 16th century; largely distorted; Eurocentric perspective) Maps are influenced by:! what we are taught!!!! Where we live!!!! Our cultural contexts!!!! Our worldviews!!!! Our history!!!! Our politics The designing of maps is also influenced by:! time zones!!!!!!! Economics and trade!!!!!!! Culture!!!!!!! Emigration/immigration!!!!!!! Nationalism!!!!!!! ownership What does ownership mean? Go back to the message of Kingʼs short story.

8 Ownership has a cultural perspective: many indigenous people make no distinction between themselves and the land. However, many Europeans (explorers and heads of state) thought otherwise: Thinking in terms of colonizing; hegemony; margins Thus, maps have been used to define/illustrate ownership One of the most disputed lands...the Holy Land Our picture of the world needs to be checked against the world itself. This means:!!! Coherence with our thinking (does it fit with our perspective?)!! Correspondence with external reality (do these match?) These two measures are: checks for the truth of the statement we make.!!!! Also known as:!!!!!! Knowledge claims They also lead to:!!! Being open to alternative perspectives!!! Being able to address them critically Thus, as we pursue study of the WAYS of knowing (leading us to AREAS of knowledge),we have to be aware of the difficulty of separating:!!! What we observe in the world PERCEPTUALLY from!!! What we think in our minds CONCEPTUALLY What are come of the characteristics of PERSPECTIVES:!!! Intangible and abstract!!! Complex and influential!!!!!! Influential upon: our acquisition of knowledge!!!!!! Development of our values system!!!!!! Definition of knowledge Perspectives can be sub-categorized by:!!! Culture!!! Politics!!! Religion!!! Gender

9 Perspectives are acquired from:!!! Family!!! Schools/education systems!!! Community!!! Class!!! Race!!! Gender!!! Media Perspectives draw together:!!! Assumptions and values!!! Bodies of beliefs!!! Common knowledge!!! Shared practices Perspectives are linked with:!!! Prior knowledge and prior beliefs!!! The shaping of what we seek and desire to learn!!! The shaping of our social groupings!!! The limits we impose on ourselves in terms of discovery Certainty: The opposite of faith is not doubt; the opposite of faith is certainty. Anne Lamott Certainty is considered to distinguish KNOWLEDGE from BELIEF When we know something, we are certain it is true; when we believer something, we might think it is true, but not know for certain. The WAYS OF KNOWING!play roles in how we can acquire certainty. However, some other terms also demand attention:! Common Sense:! not knowledge in the clearest sense, rather what we perceive, often!!! without testing or substantive support, to be knowledge; more!!! likely biases and inclinations, anecdotal and/or appeals to authority Certainty:!! to know, unequivocally

10 Relativism:!! truth is relative (different for different individuals and different!!! cultures)!!! There are no objective absolute truths independent of what we!!! happen to believe to be true.!!! At best, we can say, true for me. Judgement:!consideration of factors prior to deciding one way or the other Gullibility: naive belief or open acceptance without critical analysis Skepticism: reserved to the point of accepting very little which can lead to too narrow!! minded a perspective In order to maintain a sense of judgement between gullibility as one extreme and skepticism as the other, we look fore evidence and coherence, which, in turn, will lead us to Justified True Belief Why bother? Beliefs and opinions comprise, in part, who we are. Our beliefs and opinions inform our actions.!!!!!!