Grey Swans and Paradigm shifts

I have posted on edline an article from New Scientist (one of the best respectable resources for TOK ideas). It is from May 2008 and the title of the article is "Some swans are Grey". Incredibly (perhaps?) I found the article in a chance glance at the front cover of the journal as I returned the projector to Bryans room today, straight from TOK. Serendipity!! Well, true serendipity required some action.
We talked Thurs and today about the current paradigm of thought being science based and science more than any disipline is defined by its methodology. I mentioned tipping points in both classes and speculated where the new shift of ideas might come from. Well the article in new scientist claims that "Poppers definition of science is being sorely tested by the emergence of scientific ideas which seem to fail it" "it " being, of course, falsification. The article then goes on to cite Colin Howson of LSE in London promoting "an alternative view of science based not on simplistic true/false logic, but on the far more subtle concept of degrees of belief" Essentially a mix of mathematical probability and the" subjective concept of belief". If you want to research this its called the Bayensian view of science, after Thomas Bayes the mathematician (18th c). Its pretty interesting and gives us now 4 views about how science methodologies exist. I hope you can remember the other 3?

Reasoning creates knowledge issues - I believe there were plenty of debatable syllogisms in class, the powerpoint is on edline if you wish to check out the premises/ argument/ conclusions presented again. As always thank you for the engaging, intelligent contributions. Special note to Kuba for introducing a new "freedom of thinking" model - Check it on his blog!

Please remember syllogisms are arguments set up to show deductive reasoning but demonstrate issues/problems that illustrate the occurence of inductive fallacies. Therefore exposing the two types of logic we examined this week.

Recommendations

Check out the wave on Siljes blog. If you doubt what these two clips show then have a quick gander (look ) at the "Stanford Prison experiment" Or check it out anyhow - the power of role play is incredible. Ta ra ra Boom dee ay!!

Also once you watch "the wave" have a look at my post "brown eyes, blue eyes" it also demonstrates role play power - this time a teacher demonstrating how children can become racist.

I am beginning to notice those who are not reflecting....it only takes 2 minutes..

New forum topic posted on www.eftok.tk

Methodologies

The clip this week from youtube came from the movie "Dead Poets Society" well worth watching some time.

I showed this clip as it demonstrates the problem with methodologies for finding knowledge in the arts. If you can compare this with the three methodologies we discussed for science then you should be able to plan an essay for question 5 on the prescribed set essay list. You will see notes on the blog in November regarding the science methodologies.

Filtering language

Valerias comment made me remember this one. Does this work on all of you? any of you?
:
From Cambridge University. (allegedly - this did the global e mail rounds a few years ago)

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.


cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,

it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on !!



Psas Ti ON !

Filtering Language

Can you think of any examples when you have filtered the words that come out of your mouth? They were not the first instinctive words in your mind? remember the test in class?

S*x
Sh*t
F**K

Six, Shot and Flak. Naturally!

This is a great reminder that we not only filter by perception (input) but by Language (output) as well. Thinking about interview techniques is another good way to recognize the way we filter our natural instincts with language. So, any examples of your own?

Reflecting on this weeks class. What did you make of our role play. I did some more reserach on the Tarara boom de ay theory. i think the original word hails from the Philippines, but its not a well known theory. Some housepoints available for anyone who can strengthen/ source this theory. I felt this theory was worthwhile and provokes another question. Why dance? I hope language originated from a state of celebration rather than necessity. Do you and does it matter in any case?

Argument sketch

I like the line "I could be arguing in my spare time". I showed you this as it's a classic insight into the British sense of humour. Monty Python are legendary, they are all Oxford graduates.
This sketch also shows us something about how we know via rationalism/reason. The entire sketch uses the language of reason. They argue about definitions of an argument(illustrating one of the issues we have we language as a way of knowing), they also engage in a deductive and seemingly logical discussion about what an argument is. This is ironic of course and leads eventually to an example of the fallacy in inductive logic ("I could be arguing in my spare time"). That statement is the "Black Swan" moment perhaps! So reason has been introduced this week and we will continue with ideas to do with logic next week. Please bring with you the set essay questions.