TOK STATEMENT

Nhi Hai Vu (Elena)

STATEMENT I CHOSE:

One of the reasons the human sciences, for

example economics and psychology, have difficulty
with theories being absolute is because they are
trying to provide explanations of human behaviour.
 Explores the statement

The statement states that theories in human sciences are hard to be 100% true.
Definitions:

Theory: Absolute:

“is a formal statement of the rules on which a “very great or largest degree possible”
subject of study is based or of ideas that are
suggested to explain a fact or event or, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/e
more generally, an opinion or explanation” nglish/absolute

 Theories are generally 100% true

 Theories of science are what people
collectively believe in and trust
 Many things are built on theories
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
english/theory
Definitions:

Explanations: Human behaviour:

“the details or reasons that someone gives to
something clear or easy to understand
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/
explanation
“to act in a particular way”
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/
behave
 Can you define human behaviour?
 Each person has a different behavior
 Sigmund Freud: “the founding father of
psychoanalysis”
https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html
 Upbringings
 Ego, id and superego
 Each person has a different scenario of their
upbringings, thus affecting their subconscious and
conscious mind.
 It is difficult to explain human behaviour, and even
harder to generalise the human behavior
Therefore the statement is quite valid.
Goes along with the statement
Knowledge Framework Question 1:

What real-world problems can be solved through applying the knowledge gained in this
group?
LGBTQI+  The LGBTQI+ community was finally accepted
 People finally agreed that different people has
different opinions
 Not everyone is the same, theories are hard to be
formed, anybody can be different in a certain way.
 LGBTQI+ has finally started to become accepted
globally.
 Since it is hard to explain human nature, different
characteristics and personalities are started to be
accepted.
Knowledge Framework Question 2:

What role does language play in the accumulation of knowledge in this group?
Language =  A language is a culture

Culture  This means that some theories will be able to refer

to some communities, but might not refer to others
 This helps to open the mind of the world, as how
different places, with different languages think a
different way
 Each language will have to refer to the theory in a
different way
 Not to mention, translating theories to different
languages, will change the meaning slightly
Knowledge Framework Question 3:

What counts as a fact in the subjects in this group?

Nothing  Nothing is a fact
 If a theory cannot be true to all extent, then none
of the theories based on that theory will not be true
 I believe that because of this, nothing is a fact
 A fact has to 100% correct, and when talking about
the human behavior, it is way too difficult to give the
100% answer.
Personal and Share Knowledge

Reference to both personal and shared knowledge

Comparison between Shared and Personal
Shared Knowledge
 Society believes that each person behaves
a different way
 Because society behaves in this way, I
believe that society knows that not every
one is the same
 There are still however stereotypes and
classifications that people are put into
 Like “preppy” people, or “comedians”
 Although each person is different in their own
way, the way society puts them might make
them to believe they are the same with their
classifications
 Therefore theories are still being applied, but
only to a certain extent.
Personal Knowledge
 Personally, I think that theories are slightly
applicable in real life circumstances
 However, all theories had to be looked
through a different lens for each different
circumstance
 A theory cannot be applied a same way
between a mentally ill and a mentally stabled
person
 From my personal experience, I believe that
theories to explain the human behavior is
good to consider, but cannot be the only
factor
 When advising my friends by using my own
personal knowledge, I notice that sometimes
what they need, is not the same as to what I
need.