IB Diploma TOK Philosophy

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is the foundational course upon which the entire IB curriculum is built. It is designed to be the conduit through which the six IB subject areas are interwoven. Its purpose is simple, yet exceptionally challenging—to develop in students the ability to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and areas of knowledge, primarily through the question, “What do you know and how do you know it?”

TOK is essential to every student as it encourages students to become aware of themselves as thinkers and to become aware of the complexity of knowledge. Further, and perhaps most importantly, the course fosters in students an appreciation of the quest for knowledge.

Our Faculty

Zoe Losada, TOK 1
Thomas Sweeting, TOK 2

Course Descriptions

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The course is taught over a two-year period and is divided into three main sections:

• Knowers and Knowing
• Ways of Knowing
• Areas of Knowledge

TOK 1
TOK 1 focuses on the first two areas in addition to selected Areas of Knowledge. The ‘Ways of Knowing’ module encompasses sense perception, language, emotion and reason as approaches to knowledge acquisition. TOK 2 will focus on the third section of the syllabus, Areas of Knowledge, specifically looking at:

• The Arts
• Natural Sciences
• Mathematics
• Social Sciences
• History