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Question 2:
“There are only two ways in which humankind can produce knowledge: through passive
observation or through active experiment.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
combines them; experimentation verifies the result of that combination”1. The statement present
in the title of my choice asserts that the acquisition of knowledge is probable only through passive
observation and active experimentation, however the question remains, to which extent this is the
case? The term active experimentation is the notion of taking an active role in an attempt to justify
skepticism and draw conclusions using empirical evidences. Antithetically, the term passive
observation is the notion of solely using observation to infer a conclusion, therefore an intangible
process that involves no active role2. Active experimentation and passive observation are both
ways of producing knowledge; however they are not the sole means in the catalogue of ways
through which human beings acquire knowledge. While active experimentation and passive
observation are particularly pertinent in the area of knowledge like science, areas of knowledge
such as mathematics and religion do not fully entail these two ways to acquire knowledge. It is
also potent in ways of knowing namely reason and faith. Hence, through the contrasting areas of
knowledge such as science, mathematics and religion the rigidity of this assertion can be argued.
Natural and human sciences are areas of knowledge in which active experimentation and passive
observation are essential to produce scientific knowledge. In chemistry for example I investigated
the effect of pH indicators of different ranges on a neutralization reaction between NaOH (a strong
base) and HCL (a strong acid) against time consumption, from which it was confirmed that an
indicator called phenolphthalein of the range from 8.0 to 10.0 was the most appropriate for a
1
Diderot Denis, “Denis Diderot - On the Interpretation of Nature,” 1753, www.qotd.org,
http://www.qotd.org/search/search.html?aid=1531&page=4.
2
theoryofknowledge.net, 2014. 'May 2015 TOK Prescribed Essay Titles'. http://www.theoryofknowledge.net/tok-
essay/may-2015-tok-essay-titles/.
titration reaction between strong acids and a bases. As Denis Diderot stated that observation
collects the facts and experiment verifies the result, my investigation was supported by observation
of color change and the empirical data from which I formed a graph, that later allowed me arrive
scientific skepticism, both observation and experimentation are vital so as to accredit the inquiry.
Furthermore, Science requires deductive and inductive reasoning as a way of knowing. Deductive
reasoning allows one to test an observation and infer a theory. A hypothesis and an experimental
design are formulated based on an observational fact3. An example is J.J Thompson’s experiment
of Cathode Rays, where a prior existent knowledge of electron behavior was tested through
hypothesis and experiment. The suspicion of indivisibility of latent charge from emitted rays, led
Thompson to design an experiment to augment his skepticism. The experiment saw a cathode ray
attached to pair of cylinders containing slits in them which was connected to an electrometer that
would measure the electric charge. In order to comprehend whether charges could be separated
from the rays, he bent the rays by inducing a magnetic field and learnt that the negative charge and
the cathode rays were indivisible4. Thus, in terms of sciences practical deductive reasoning
Oppositely, inductive reasoning utilizes simply observational pragmatism to discover a theory and
illuminate a scientific pattern5. This comes in huge terms with evolutionary theories. An example
could be the observational discovery of theories by Charles Darwin. One of his observations
3
Van de Lagemaa, Richard. May 26, 2011. Theory of Knowledge for The IB Diploma Full Color Edition. England:
Cambridge University Press.
4
Aip.org, 2014. 'Three Experiments and One Big Idea'. https://www.aip.org/history/electron/jj1897.htm.
5
Crossman, Ashley. 2014. 'What's the Difference between Deductive and Inductive Reasoning?’ About.
http://sociology.about.com/od/Research/a/Deductive-Reasoning-Versus-Inductive-Reasoning.htm.
showed the variance of Darwin Finches across an island called Galapagos, which led to the theory
of geographical isolation, elucidating that variation between specie changed with the distance due
to adaptations of geographical niche.6 This form of inductive reasoning to discover and prove a
theory was merely based on observation and theoretical reflection, unlike the practical deductive
through observation is the invention of vaccination. During the 20th century a lethal virus named
“variola” swept through Europe taking several lives, but a physician named Edward Jenner
observed that milkmaids were frequently diagnosed with a non-harmful sickness called cowpox,
and were immune to variola virus. This observation later allowed him to discover the vaccination
against smallpox7. Consequently, the genesis of his discovery was observation, and our healthy
The assertion now is that, is passive observation completely passive? In surplus, it can only be
reasoned that passive observation is wholly passive only if an individual’s body mechanisms are
inert and do not actively subsidize the process. This sets limelight to the process of thinking which
is in my judgment is not passive. While we are thinking, our brain functions in transporting our
thoughts. To elaborate, let’s look at neuroscience. The activities in our body mechanism comprise
the activities of the nervous system, where cells termed ‘neurons’ transmit information and
messages throughout the body via the electrochemical systems. The sensory neurons encompass a
transport chain from the sensory receptor to the brain, while motor neurons encompass a transport
chain from our brain to muscles in our body. So, in essence when we are observing we are
6
Fossilmuseum.net, 2014. 'Darwin's Finches, Decent With Modification and Natural Selection'.
http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Evolution/DarwinsFinches.htm.
7
Historyofvaccines.org, 2014. 'The Scientific Method in Vaccine History — History of Vaccines'.
http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/scientific-method-vaccine-history.
transmitting our observations, and neurons take an active role in transmitting the information,
called as the “action potential” in biology8. Hence, way of acquiring knowledge through
observation is not passive, but an active act, which lets me to question the very existence of the
Not all forms of knowledge derives from active experimentation and passive observation.
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that stages an antithetical view of response to the claim in
mathematical questions from a theory or principle that is already known. For instance we know
that 4+4 is equal to 8 which is not consequent of both observation and experimentation. It is a
deductively known property of relating discrete concepts of mathematical principles and theories,
knowledge isn’t the same as empirical or observational knowledge. However on the other hand,
let’s look at the concept of Bayes theorem. Bayes theorem was initially constructed by Thomas
Bayes, who showed that our extents of belief in laws and theories are often defined by
which often involves the relationship between evidence and a theory, Bayes theorem is used to
describe the relationship between evidence and a theory that bolsters the credibility and lucidity.
8
Allot, Andrew. 2007. Biology for the IB Diploma. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
9
Bruce, Aune. 2008. An Empiricist Theory of Knowledge. EBook. 1st ed. Boston: University of Massachusetts.
http://www.umass.edu/philosophy/PDF/Aune/ETK.pdf.
experimentation or observation since an imperative theory like Bayes theorem utilizes empirical
and observational evidences in the process of knowing the statistical probability of causes.
An area of knowledge that is rigidly contrasting to the opted claim is religion. Religious knowledge
is the knowledge of an individual’s belief or faith, which can be either subjective or objective.
Extreme religionists reason the existence of soul by claiming that it is through means of meditation
and prayers. Although I would strongly disagree with the existence of the term “passive”, assuming
the term passive observation is viable, the reasoning can be seen as a form of passive observation.
However, there are no accurate justifications, as a result of the contingent intangibility of proofs.
An atheist would affirm the non-existence of god for they believe that theism lacks empirical or
accurate observation of evidences, meanwhile a theist would strongly disagree with this claim,
although lacking the proof. For example, let’s take a look at my religion, Hinduism, where a picture
of Hindu god is assumed to be what they look like, so has the creator of the picture seen god? In
Hinduism the form of lord Ganesh for instance has a story behind it, thus a belief. Lack of proof
is because beliefs and faiths cannot be vindicated or examined in a microscope. This was expressed
by Christopher Hitchens when he said “that which can be asserted without evidence, can be
Besides, it cannot also be agreed that there are only two ways to acquire knowledge, this takes into
account of innate knowledge that is inborn with an infant. For example, a baby knows that it can
feed from its mother’s breasts, did this knowledge come from active experimentation or passive
10
Ted.com, 2012. '“That Which Can Be Asserted Without Evidence, Can Be Dismissed Without Evidence.” –
Christopher Hitchens. Do You Agree? | A Conversation on TED.Com'.
http://www.ted.com/conversations/15491/that_which_can_be_asserted_wi.html.
observation? No, it is innate. Antithetically, on the other hand, if a baby wants attention it knows
it can get attention by crying, and this can be classified as knowledge gained by experimentation.
Are there only two ways in which humankind acquire knowledge? It is only to certain extent to
which the knowledge of an individual is reliant on the acquisition of knowledge through solely
active experimentation and passive observation. Having strongly affirmed earlier in the essay, I
disagree with the existence of “passive” observation, since observation is not passive. The field of
science is pragmatically dependent upon empirical and observational facts, conversely in the area
of mathematics both show a partial but an imperative role to acquire knowledge. Finally, the
intangibility of religious faiths and beliefs detracts passive observation and active experimentation
as means to acquire knowledge. Ultimately, the accuracy of the assertion in the title of my choice
Websites
Crossman, Ashley. 2014. 'What's the Difference between Deductive and Inductive
Reasoning?’ About. http://sociology.about.com/od/Research/a/Deductive-Reasoning-Versus-
Inductive-Reasoning.htm
Ted.com, 2012. '“That Which Can Be Asserted Without Evidence, Can Be Dismissed
Without Evidence.” – Christopher Hitchens. Do You Agree? | A Conversation on TED.Com'.
http://www.ted.com/conversations/15491/that_which_can_be_asserted_wi.html.
Books
Allot, Andrew. 2007. Biology for the IB Diploma. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Van de Lagemaa, Richard. May 26, 2011. Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma Full
Color Edition. England: Cambridge University Press.
Bruce, Aune. 2008. An Empiricist Theory of Knowledge. EBook. 1st ed. Boston:
University of Massachusetts. http://www.umass.edu/philosophy/PDF/Aune/ETK.pdf.