Divya Prasad

TOK Exhibition

IA Prompt
#27 Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations on those
who know it?

Core theme

Optional theme
Object 1

Justification and evidence to the IA prompt (310 words)

There are certain values and beliefs that are followed by every individual in
their life. In some cases, we acquire these values and beliefs from our parents,
and in others, they're developed by ourselves through external influences. We
may have moral obligations as a consequence of these values, beliefs, and
ethical principles. Knowledge can impose ethical obligations on those who
know it. In this sense, the connection between knowledge and the knower
becomes inevitable. In addition to the values, beliefs, and ethics we were
raised with, which may play an important role in doing so since they pose
ethical questions about the choices made by key players along the way.
The first object I picked is a scene from the Disney movie ‘Mulan’ which was
released in the year 2020. In this movie, the young protagonist disguises
herself as a male warrior to join the imperial army in an attempt to prevent her
sick father from doing so because he has no male descendants.In the time
period that is depicted in the film, women were considered to be nothing more
than brides. The movie shows several instances in which Mulan considers
telling the truth, demonstrating a concern about ethical behavior as we can see
in this scene. Since Mulan was in posession of the knowledge of her being a
woman who were considered inferior to men and not fit to do anything but be
a bride and home maker, her ethics were constantly questioned. Mulan, due to
the posession of the knowledge felt and obligation to present the truth. This
movie plays a crucial role in today's time since it allows women to be heard
and have a voice and is presenting them as equals to men. As a result, this
movie and especially this scene makes those who possess the knowledge of
this era and still hold the beliefs and opinions of that time have an ethical duty
to accept and support equal treatment for women in society today.

Object 2
Justification and evidence to the IA prompt (310 words)

For my second object I chose a research paper by Exxon Mobil. Exxon Mobil
conducted a research and knew thirty years ago, before anyone else, that
climate change had begun due to human activity. As an oil company, however,
they decided to withhold this information from the public so that they could
profit from the sale of oil, which contributes to climate change. Inspite of the
fact that their own scientists had demonstrated how bad climate change will
become due to the continued burning of fossil fuels, they spread
misinformation about scientific uncertainty about climate change. Having this
piece of information that Exxon was aware of for many years made them
ethically obligated to either take steps to prevent the current climate
catastrophe or to at least make changes for the future generations. The
company however chose the unethical route by first, not disclosing the
research when it was discovered, and second, spreading misinformation so as
to gain profit while exploiting this knowledge to their advantage. Throughout
the world the people and especially the young youth are affected by this, as
the responsibility of fixing the errors commited by previous generations now
lies with us

Object 3
Justification and evidence to the IA prompt (310 words)
The last object I chose is my cousin’s prescription. This prescription is from
2011 when I was seven years old and my nine years old brother was
diagnosed with a lung disease and used to have frequent surgeries, spend
several nights at the hospital and go through painful treatments. I was unaware
of the fact that he is going through so much. Everytime I asked my family
why does he get to go out and not me they used to say he is going for his
tuitions or to his grandmother’s place. He passed away in 2013 and i was
unaware of what happened and how it had happened until 2017. I never got to
say my goodbyes and spend time with him as much as I would have if I was
aware of what he was going through. In this case, the knowledge bearer, my
family had an ethical obligation to share the information on what was going
on. They had an ethical obligation to reveal or conceal knowledge but the
nature of the knowledge influences what course of action must be taken and
who it affects. Here, by not sharing the information of my cousin’s disease my
family denied the rights of me spending and cherishing the time I had left with
him. I still feel a void of not getting to say my goodbyes and be there for my
cousin during his last days and the piece of unshared information that my
family posessed many years ago might have stopped me from feeling that way
or at least would have made it better.