IB Theory of Knowledge - an ongoing list of interesting finds

This article from BBC Magazine presents a question that has come up several times in our own class during the past year - to what extent can artificial intelligence truly comprehend knowledge? In this case, ethical knowledge. Note:  Included in the article is the widely-used "trolley" philosophy problem (so much so, in fact, that it should be considered cliché when it comes to your TOK assignments!).   Also included in the article is a link to the BBC Radio 4 program where this issue is discussed in detail.  Both the article and the radio program present an interesting and detailed look at this ongoing debate.

Consider every time you've tried to explain something to someone, but couldn't quite find the right word to illustrate what you were feeling.  Sometimes it seems more appropriate to describe a feeling because there just isn't a word in the English language that will communicate exactly  what you want to say. https://goo.gl/kRbSAe Here are a series of links to words that illustrate just that - sometimes, the word that we are looking for simply cannot be easily translated. Cachero, Paulina, Keira Edgett and Shani Tsur. " An untranslatable word for pure joy ."  BBC Culture. Web. July 21, 2017. Lomas, Tim. ' The Magic of "Untranslatable" Words .' Scientific American. Web. July 12, 2016.  Macdonald, Fiona. " Eleven untranslatable words ." BBC Culture. Web. October 21, 2014.  Oxenham, Jason. CEO. " 20 of the World's Most Beautiful Untranslatable Words ." Rocket Languages. Blog. November 27, 2016.  Robson, D...

One particular event this week helped to clearly illustrate the powerful driving force of media and social media. Donald Trump, during a late-night inspiration, decided he was going to comment via Twitter on recent frustrations.  Unfortunately, his post left quite a bit up to the imagination... What immediately followed was a flurry of activity that began with confusion and concern, quickly moving onto humour and ridicule.  Check out the highlights posted on The Guardian: " What is covfefe? The tweet by Donald Trump that baffled the internet ." (The Guardian Online, May 31 2017). The New York Times article, " What's a 'Covfefe'? Trump Tweet Unites a Bewildered Nation " also explored the immediate confusion with a humourous twist - that which confuses the heck out of a nation, also unites them.   CNN, in their article entitled " 'Covfefe' tells you all you need to know about Donald Trump ," interviewed people to see what they tho...

And do we have a right, so many decades later, to reinterpret or redefine an iconic work of literature?  Can we accept that the novel is a "simple folk tale," as claimed by L. Frank Baum, the author?  Must we always attempt to interpret works of art or reason their "deeper meanings"?   Can a work of art simply stand as a piece of knowledge itself outside of our responses to it?  How valid is our personal knowledge or interpretation of a piece of art? Does it matter in the end what the artist may have "intended"? To what extent can we actually know what was "intended" by an artist without their direct input? An intriguing video that explores these questions and more. 

An article appeared in The Guardian  yesterday that I found quite amusing -  Do sea monsters exist? Yes, but they go by another name … .  It touches on the human need to create stories and to sensationalize that which we do not understand. The journalist, Jules Howard, points out the familiar narrative pattern : a rotting carcass washed up on the shore in Indonesia and, due to its advanced state of composition, a storm of activity began in the media from those attempting to define what this "sea monster" could be. "And so, within hours, a familiar narrative was playing out in the world’s media as the whale became a dead sea monster that no one could identify, a Scooby Doo mystery that could be maintained by journalists for days as long as nobody checked Twitter, where 10,000 scientists were screaming “That is clearly a whale” at each other. As such, in the news reports, the whale’s decomposing skin became “fur” and its blood became “mysterious red fluid” floating in ...

In this opinion column, journalist Arwa Mahdawi explores the limitations of gendered language such as mansplaining  and girlboss. These neologisms seem to have been created to illustrate a criticism of gendered language, but end up having the reverse effect. Mahdawi explores how we create language to subvert the sexism within current phrases, titles or expressions, but in the end Mahdawi argues that  " It doesn’t tear down the sexism encoded in language, it reinforces it." Sophia Amoruso, who popularised the term girlboss, at the premiere of Netflix’s Girlboss TV show. The problem with gendered language

Was it really that crazy for a newspaper to reject the mistaken spelling? In this entertaining column, Bill Walsh, a copy editor at the Post, discusses what his issues are with evolving language - especially when it is incorrect in form .  While criticized at times for fighting against trends in language, Walsh identifies some reasons why some of these changes were so slowly accepted. Once central reason had to do with structure and sound:   "Still, mic is an aberration. Words like that aren’t pronounced like that. A bicycle is a bike, not a bic. Bic, as in the pens, rhymes with Mick. So do hic and Nic and pic and Ric and sic and tic and Vic. That’s how short forms work: They’re intended to be pronounced, and so they’re spelled phonetically. You don’t just start subtracting letters until you’re left with something approximate. A refrigerator is a fridge; frig is a mild curse word that rhymes with pig." He also addresses the ongoing and controversial question of " w...

DO we have, or SHOULD we have, the right to choose ?  An ongoing debate fraught with health hazards and potentially deadly consequences. Check out the following resources to explore the controversy surrounding vaccinations, the reasons behind the standpoints of "anti-vaccine" protests and the scientific standpoint on the benefits and potential risks. Resources : Bronfin, Daniel R., MD. " Childhood Immunization Controversies: What Are Parents Asking? " The Ochsner Journal. 2008 Fall; 8(3): 151–156. PMCID: PMC3096324. Chou, Vivian.  " To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Searching for a verdict in the vaccination debate ." Harvard University: The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Science in the News Blog. Online. January 4, 2016. Harris, Gardiner. "J ournal Retracts 1998 Paper Linking Autism to Vaccines ."  The New York Times: Research. Online. February 2, 2010. Jacobs, Charlotte DeCroes. " Vaccinations Have Always Been Controvers...

An emotional and though-provoking feature article that explores the efforts of Israel's Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem ("A Memorial and a Name"), who, since 1954, have been working to recover the names of all the victims, and to date has managed to identify some 4.7 million. Dr Alexander Avram, director of Yad Vashem's Hall of Names and the Central Database of Shoah [Holocaust] Victims' Names states that "Every new name we can add to our database is a victory against the Nazis, against the intent of the Nazis to wipe out the Jewish people. Every new name is a small victory against oblivion." The Hall of Names is a haunting memorial to those who were lost during the Holocaust - a literal collection of names, facts and stories about individuals who perished.  A daunting task as much is based on memory and piecing together of information, and yet is highly symbolic in terms of what it represents.  The memorial and the efforts behind it beg the question ...

Thanks to Liora for this suggestion - Dan Brown's thriller Angels and Demons  combines history, science (although both are somewhat distorted at times) and religion in this exploration of the apparent and ongoing controversy between religion and science. The text is an entertaining read - it takes place around a "24-hour" style action-packed life-and-death scenario.  Science threatens religion, which threatens science.  With a few ironic turns of events, the main characters, educated and well-respected members of the historical and scientific communities, find themselves working with the Catholic Church and the Vatican to solve the mystery and save key religious figures from the figure who has decided to use science as a weapon against faith. A controversy surrounding the novel is that, while Brown is creating a work of fiction and thus to a degree is awarded "artistic licence," the liberties he has taken with presenting historical or scientific information ...

Activision is about to release further information on the new Call of Duty: WWII - while reviews illustrated that gamers were becoming more alienated by the technological advancements as the game moved further into the future, it seems Activision is changing course and returning the game to the "boots on the ground" experience of the original games. As is stated in the Guardian article , "This game is likely to be one of the largest pieces of historical entertainment ever released." An exciting time for the video game industry!

On Earth Day this past weekend, demonstrations were held around the world in defense of science. An idea that many find absurd in its necessity, but in many major cities across the globe, scientists and science-advocates rallied together to take a stand against seemingly perpetuating ignorance. Central knowledge questions that arise surrounding this event are: In what ways can the WOKs faith and emotion cause significant and ongoing controversy surrounding widely accepted scientific theories?  In what ways are the natural sciences irreconcilable with specific AOKs or WOKs?  Explore the following articles to gain a sense of the purposes behind, and the sudden necessity for, a unified front in the face of things like "alternate facts" and "fake news." Also take note of the witty and inspiring signs that were the highlight of the mass demonstrations. " 21 of the best March for Science protest signs ." Resources : Burdick, Alan. " The Use...

"Truth was the first casualty of the Great Depression. Reflecting the anguish of the time, propaganda was manufactured on an unprecedented scale. As economic disaster threatened to trigger shooting wars so, as George Orwell said, useful lies were preferred to harmful truths. He went further, declaring that history stopped in 1936; after that there was only propaganda." A feature article that explores the blurring of lines and the manipulation of truth. An international collection of propaganda posters from before and during the second world war. Composite: UIG/VGC via Getty Images Death of truth

An intriguing look at the idea of history repeating itself in current events and politics. While there is a common understanding that history plays a significant role in helping us avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, there are many who argue that the human pattern unfortunately illustrates the opposite. With links to historical examples of fascism and Nazism, and then current political climates, the article attempts to illustrate a blindness that we have to the warning patterns of history. Are you paying attention?

“Mathematical concepts are not wired into the human condition. They are learned, acquired through cultural and linguistic transmission. And if they are learned rather than inherited genetically, then it follows that they are not a component of the human mental hardware but are very much a part of our mental software—the feature of an app we ourselves have developed.” The Smithsonian interviews Caleb Everett "to learn more about the invention of numbers and the enormous role they’ve played in human society." How Humans Invented Numbers

Maps are effective as models - these can be used to illustrate historical understandings.  A historical article exploring knowledge gained from maps during the exploring of the "new world." This piece provides insights into historical perspectives, experiences and interpretation of the world. In 1502, as Europeans hungrily looked to the vast new continent across the Atlantic Ocean, innovative maps of these unfamiliar territories became objects of power and intrigue. Alberto Cantino, an Italian spy, acquired a Portuguese map showing stunning finds in the New World. Knowledge is power—and no knowledge was more assiduously coveted by European nations in the early 16th century than the information recorded on nautical maps. Coastlines, harbors, rivers, resources: Details about these features could give a nation a distinct advantage in trying to stake a claim to new lands. The “Cantino Planisphere,” completed in 1502, is the second known chart to have depicted the New Wo...

"But reviving a dying language is not easy. One main challenge is that Kristang is mostly a spoken language and has rarely been recorded. There is no standardised spelling or pronunciation system - one word can have dozens of variations. The word for four, quartu, can be spelt and pronounced in 20 different ways. And because it has been in decline for so long, it has huge gaps in its vocabulary... To solve this problem, his group invented new words with mash-ups of Kristang's root languages." This article raises questions about the efforts required to revive a language that so few speak today. With significant ties to heritage and culture, the question of whether a language in its "dying days" so to speak is a futile effort, or an attempt at cultural revival. How to revive a 500-year-old dying language

Have you ever felt a little mbuki-mvuki – the irresistible urge to “shuck off your clothes as you dance”? Perhaps a little kilig – the jittery fluttering feeling as you talk to someone you fancy? How about uitwaaien – which encapsulates the revitalising effects of taking a walk in the wind? These words – taken from Bantu, Tagalog, and Dutch – have no direct English equivalent, but they represent very precise emotional experiences that are neglected in our language. And if Tim Lomas at the University of East London has his way, they might soon become much more familiar. ‘Untranslatable’ emotions

"Most of us will do anything to avoid being wrong. But what if we're wrong about that? 'Wrongologist' Kathryn Schulz makes a compelling case for not just admitting but embracing our fallibility." Why do we get stuck inside this feeling of being right and why is this such a problem ? An entertaining talk drawing on our own insecurities and fallibility.

In this piece, philosopher Bertrand Russell tackles a very personal question about whether he considers himself to be an atheist or an agnostic.  He addresses practicalities such as that of evidence  of a God as well as the ideal that one should be able to believe in whatever they believe in. An interesting and reflective personal debate on a highly controversial topic. Atheist or Agnostic? 

"Just as the English language constantly grows, so does the dictionary. More than one thousand new words have been added, including terms from recent advances in science, borrowings from foreign languages, and words from tech, medicine, pop culture, sports, and everything in between. This is a significant addition to our online dictionary, reflecting the breadth of English vocabulary and the speed with which we seek information." Words and phrases added that illustrate our ever-evolving language include: Seussian, face-palm, throw shade, photobomb and first world problem. New words in the dictionary

Mayim Bialik (PH.D in neuroscience and star of comedy series "Big Bang Theory") explains how she is able to reconcile her devotion to scientist with her religious beliefs.

Feature article exploring a central frustrating question - and posing somewhat counterintuitive reasonings, such as those with a higher level of education resulting in using scientific knowledge to "reinforce beliefs that have already been shaped by their worldview." Doubting Science

This one cataclysmic event gave rise to our entire Universe, but it seems we can never truly know what it looked like Science writer and astrophysicist Adam Becker explains why we cannot see the Big Bang to BBC Earth. Big Bang

“Is there a right length of time to look at – or engage with – an artwork?” asks Linda Kennedy in this video from Art Basel Hong Kong. “What’s worth a glance? What deserves a gaze?” How to look at a work of art

This video addresses the controversy of falsification in the sciences and why this logic does not or should not always apply. Science writer and astrophysicist Adam Becker explains how science really works. Why you should mostly trust what science tells you

New York art world bitterly divided over ‘ cultural appropriation ’ of 1955 photograph of murdered 14-year-old Emmett Till "It is one of the most powerful images to emerge from the racism that infected the southern states of America in the 1950s – the photograph of a badly beaten 14-year-old boy, lynched after being falsely accused of flirting with a white woman, lying in a funeral casket. Now protests over a painting based on the photograph, included in a New York museum show, are dividing the city’s art world amid claims of racist exploitation and censorship. At the centre of the battle over cultural appropriation is artist Dana Schutz’s expressionist painting Open Casket (2016), a gruesome depiction of Emmett Till, lynched in Mississippi in 1955. The painting, on display at the Whitney Biennial exhibition, initially drew swift condemnation from critics who claimed Schutz, who is white, was taking advantage of a defining moment in African American history." Ar...

With a thorough exploration of Oppenheimer's background, influences, anxieties and motivations, this feature explores the effects of nuclear weaponry. In the piece, Oppenheimer is likened to notable scientists who, in an attempt to prevent further war or further destruction, utilize science.  Like the others listed in the passage below, however, he is unable to to so. An excerpt: " The distressing human predilection for the occasional blood-feast did, of course, impede man’s progress toward these ever-appealing ends. Alfred Nobel had hoped that his invention of dynamite, which enhanced exponentially the possibilities for battle carnage, would put people off war forever; it didn’t happen. Albert Einstein, equally peaceable but more discerning, said of the weaponry developed before the First World War — machine guns, massive artillery — that entrusting human beings with modern technology was like putting a meat ax in the hands of a psychopath. The flower of Wilhelmine chem...

A post from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History that outlines "issues that arise at the crossroads of science and religion, particularly in relation to the scientific accounts of evolution and human origins..."  As the Smithsonian's Committee points out, "Cultural divides in the United States over the acceptance of evolution and scientific understandings of human origins make this interchange relevant. They also offer an opportunity to inspire a positive relationship between science and religion. "  (February 8, 2016) For a biting scientific retort to Creationism, check out: Scientific American's relatively scathing "15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense"  (July 1, 2002). Dr. Dave Hone's " Why creationists are out of time with history and science " (April 27, 2016). Alternately, Answers in Genesis' website offers counter arguments and further explanation to central Creationist theories and the potential overl...

A few articles to get you started on looking at this Real Life Situation.  Proponents for intelligent design (Creationist theory) battle for space in the science curriculum and in educational textbooks. The scientific community is adamant that intelligent design is not a scientific branch as it lacks falsification . In fact, this is not simply a current event - these battles have been ongoing since Darwin published his Evolutionary theory.  In 1925, teacher John Scopes was convicted and fined $100 for teaching evolution in his Dayton, Tenn., classroom (PBS' "Scopes Trial"). Today, the metaphorical war is "fought" in small battles, and continuous debates arise in terms of who should have the decision-making power as to what is included or excluded from curriculum. Below are links to articles addressing this ongoing controversy, with specific focus on recent battles in Texas, USA. “ Creationism and intelligent design .” BBC: Religions. Online. 2009-06-02. ...

A look at the discovery of the DNA "fingerprint," the evolution of its use in immigration, forensics, and touches on the ongoing controversial (disturbing?) debate surrounding the creation of a DNA database of citizens with no criminal history. DNA fingerprinting Further Reading: " Is it ethical to have a national DNA database ?" Debate.  yourgenome.com.

Source: New York Times Excerpt from  “A Family Consents to a Medical Gift, 62 Years Later.” New York Times. August 7, 2013. Henrietta Lacks was only 31 when she died of cervical cancer in 1951 in a Baltimore hospital. Not long before her death, doctors removed some of her tumor cells. They later discovered that the cells could thrive in a lab, a feat no human cells had achieved before. Soon the cells, called HeLa cells, were being shipped from Baltimore around the world. In the 62 years since, her cells have been the subject of more than 74,000 studies, many of which have yielded profound insights into cell biology, vaccines, in vitro fertilization and cancer. But Henrietta Lacks, who was poor, black and uneducated, never consented to her cells’ being studied. For 62 years, her family has been left out of the decision-making around [and financial benefits of] that research. Excerpt from "A New Chapter in the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." National Geograph...

Have a look at the role of serendipity in a variety of contexts using the links below.  The Atlantic -  The Accidental Discovery of LSD New Humanist - famous accidental discoveries American Physical Society - Becquerel Discovers Radioactivity National Science Foundation - Chance Discoveries: Safety Glass Popular Mechanics - 10 Awesome Accidental Discoveries Business Insider - 15 Amazing Science Discoveries Inspired By Complete Accidents

This 2013 piece looks at motivations provided to human scientists in the USA and how these reward systems, while producing science that is innovative and "cutting edge," do not provide consistency or help to establish accuracy in the human sciences.  This bias, called the "US-effect" does not adhere to the central beliefs of what science should be: "Science should be about doing good, precise studies. Not necessarily about getting exciting new results every time." The introduction:   "Scientists who study human behaviour are more likely than average to report exaggerated or eye-catching results if they are based in the United States, according to an analysis of more than 1,000 research papers in psychiatry and genetics. This bias could be due to the research culture in the US, authors of the analysis said, which tends to preferentially reward scientists for the novelty and immediate impact of a piece of work over the quality or its long-term contrib...

A short audio clip that looks at the viability or reliability of forensic evidence in legal proceedings from a scientific perspective. Podcast

Quite an interesting read that addresses the role of perception in first impressions. Once again, the study in question centered on males only, with specific reference to specific elements of facial structure that previous studies suggested indicated perceptions of higher testosterone, aggression and strength. Still, an interesting look at how we are not only influenced by facial expressions at first glance, but also by the physical form of individuals. An excerpt: "A newly published series of experiments by cognitive neuroscientists at New York University is reinforcing the relevance of facial expressions to perceptions of characteristics such as trustworthiness and friendliness. More importantly, the research also revealed the unexpected finding that perceptions of abilities such as physical strength are not dependent on facial expressions but rather on facial bone structure." Bone Structure

This piece explores the idea that there might be a price to pay for empathy and that too much awareness of others' emotional states could bring on an increased level of personal stress.  While the study in question centers specifically on emotional intelligence in males, it does raise some interesting questions about the extent to which we need to emphasize empathy to strengthen relationships and where the metaphorical line needs to be drawn in order to avoid stress on ourselves. An excerpt: "In students who were rated more emotionally intelligent, the stress measures increased more during the experiment and took longer to go back to baseline. The findings suggest that some people may be too emotionally astute for their own good..." Further, the piece discusses "dark side of emotional intelligence," suggesting that those who  are more "emotionally astute"  can utilize this strength in order to manipulate or take advantage of people, or fall victim ...

Mental health expert Tori Rodriguez explores why avoiding or suppressing negative emotions can have a lasting effect on our understanding of the world and ourselves.  She touches on the insights we can gain from negative emotions, such as vital clues about our personal health or the strength of our relationships with others. Rodriguez writes that "In my psychotherapy practice, many of my clients struggle with highly distressing emotions, such as extreme anger, or with suicidal thoughts. In recent years I have noticed an increase in the number of people who also feel guilty or ashamed about what they perceive to be negativity. Such reactions undoubtedly stem from our culture's overriding bias toward positive thinking. Although positive emotions are worth cultivating, problems arise when people start believing they must be upbeat all the time." Negative Emotions

"We understand the English and Americans think highly of Pocahontas. We appreciate that it brings an interest to our tribe, but we just sit back and figure: if people want to worship a myth, then let them do it." Circa 1600, Pocahontas, the American Indian princess who saved the life of  John Smith, the English adventurer on two occasions.  (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) [Getty Images]  This feature article combines mythology, history and current shared knowledge .   Pocahontas is one of the best known and most-beloved Native Americans; in many cases, one of the only known Native Americans. Disney has retold a version of her story, historical documents suggest she did much to help entice English to settle in the New World, and became 'the poster child of a "civilised savage."' Her tribe today suggests that she does not hold the same significance for them as she does for mainstream Americans, that the history/mythology surrounding her mig...

This article sparked quite a bit of controversy in TOK teacher groups with arguments centering on supporting the artistic license to revise or adapt historical events for artistic purposes, and others criticizing the blatant revision of historical fact and presenting an alternate version of events than what has already been documented in detail. Either way, the piece is critical of a film that essentially retells the partition during India's liberation from British rule, basing part of the condemnation on the fact that many still have living memory of what actually happened and therefore oppose the point of view the director has taken, and highlighting that the "sin" of the film is that it takes "breathtaking liberty with the historical record; " diminishing it to "fake history." To what extent are artists or artistic representations obliged to accurately depict historical fact? How might a misrepresentation of history become dangerous, or in thi...

A counterargument for those who deem algorithms and "big data" to be an asset to everyday lives. While the columnists acknowledge some positive elements of data collection and use, it also stresses "anarchy" - or rather, our ability to explore options and choose for ourselves; relying on instinct or serendipity rather than going along with what an algorithm suggests we should try or purchase.  Their argument?   "Data-driven technocracy is threatening to overwhelm innovation and democracy. This outcome should be avoided at all costs. Decentralised decision-making is crucial for the enrichment of society." Article

In this piece, columnist Nabil Al-Khowaiter argues that humanity will have a communication revolution in the next 5-10 years. This barely acknowledged revolution, which is likely to change the entire course of human history in a few short decades, is the rise of Artificial Intelligence-enabled, fully fluent live audio translation of conversations between humans of all ethnicities. We are not just talking about the literal translation of English or French into Russian or Chinese, but the translation of the subtle meanings wrapped in cultural allegories that even fluent but non-native speakers of a language often miss. Al-Khowaiter presents both positive and negative results of this revolution - from ease of daily communication to potential migration issues.  An interesting read. Artificial intelligence will delete nationalism

Delving into topics such as President Trump's tweets, personal knowledge, objectivity/subjectivity and faith, this radio program offers insight into whether we can truly "know" things as "facts." What is a fact?  

In this excerpt from his novel  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Guide to Living A Good Life , author Mark Manson explores the notion of paradigm shifts with specific reference to personal knowledge .  He argues that people should simply assume they're wrong, about everything, because: Knowledge is an eternal iterative process. We don’t go from “wrong” to “right” once we discover the capital-T Truth. Rather, we go from partially wrong to slightly less wrong, to slightly less wrong than that, to even less wrong than that, and so on. We approach the capital-T truth, but never reach it. Mark Manson

Danielle Dufault creates artistic renderings of creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. Who says art and science don't mix? Not Danielle Dufault, a Toronto illustrator who is one of only a handful of people around the world called on to create artistic renderings of the mysterious creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.  "I really take a lot of pleasure in trying to reconstruct these lost worlds," Dufault told CBC News. "And there's a lot of imagination that can be applied to that." Using photos of a fossil, paleontological illustrator Danielle Dufault came up with this drawing of  Hallucigenia, a prehistoric worm-like sea creature that lived 500 million years ago.  (Illustration by Danielle Dufault, photo by Jean-Bernard Caron, Royal Ontario Museum) CBC News

Inspired by Liora's and Jana's recent presentation, this video animation accompanies a recorded conversation between an astrophysicist and a BBC correspondent explaining what science knows, hypothesizes and is just plain uncertain about with regards to the universe. Video

This article explores what is known as "perception bias" - the idea that "our views and beliefs can cloud the way we perceive things."  Perception bias can take on many forms and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including preconceptions and personal experience. An interesting look at how our eyes can "lie" to us and how our brains can be deceived. Science & Technology - Perception Bias

Ron Eglash is an ethno-mathematician: he studies the way math and cultures intersect. He has shown that many aspects of African design — in architecture, art, even hair braiding — are based on perfect fractal patterns. "When Europeans first came to Africa, they considered the architecture very disorganized and thus primitive. It never occurred to them that the Africans might have been using a form of mathematics that they hadn't even discovered yet." TED Talk

With references to historical events and responses from the art world, Art and Architecture critic Philip Kennicott addresses the reactions, roles and potential responsibilities of those in the art community when the world turns "ugly." An excerpt:   "Many artists today are horrified by the current state of political affairs, the election of Donald Trump, the rise and mainstreaming of racist, misogynist and anti-Semitic rhetoric, and the assembly of a cabinet of billionaires whose commitment to the public weal is unknown and deeply distrusted. But if there is collective outrage at what has happened, there is anything but a unified response. Should art be a weapon of mass resistance? Should artists embrace politics and wield the blunt weapons of satire, caricature and scorn? Or, at the far end of the temperamental spectrum, should they preserve the artistic impulse — underscoring complexity and refinement — unsullied by the low and grotesque values that now dominate the...

A look at how writers, painters and composers have obeyed laws of nature for centuries. An excerpt:   "I have spent many years as a mathematician working alongside artists and what has struck me is how similar our practices are. I have so often found artists drawn to structures that are the same ones I am interested in from a mathematical perspective. We may have different languages to navigate these structures but we both seem excited by the same patterns and frameworks. Often, we are both responding to structures that are already embedded in the natural world. As humans we have developed multiple languages to help us navigate our environment." The hidden maths in great art

"In her new book Mathematics and Art , historian Lyn Gamwell explores how artists have for thousands of years used mathematical concepts - such as infinity, number and form - in their work. Here she chooses ten stunning images from her book that reveal connections between maths and art ." History of Maths = History of Art

Edvard Munch’s portrait of existential angst is the second most famous image in art history – but why ? "Beneath a boiling sky, aflame with yellow, orange and red, an androgynous figure stands upon a bridge. Wearing a sinuous blue coat, which appears to flow, surreally, into a torrent of aqua, indigo and ultramarine behind him, he holds up two elongated hands on either side of his hairless, skull-like head. His eyes wide with shock, he unleashes a bloodcurdling shriek. Despite distant vestiges of normality – two figures upon the bridge, a boat on the fjord – everything is suffused with a sense of primal, overwhelming horror. This, of course, is The Scream, by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch – the second most famous image in art history, after Leonardo’s Mona Lisa." BBC Article

Thank you to Braden, who used this piece in his recent TOK essay. A visual exploration of how mathematics and art overlap in photography. The piece also includes discussion on the Golden Ratio, aesthetics and composition.   "Whether the artists were planning the composition on purpose, subconsciously, or by accident, it might explain why they are seen as so good to just about anyone who lays eyes on them." SEE HOW THE GOLDEN RATIO PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S BEST PHOTOS FROM 2016

An article that explores the poisonous impact the rhetoric and language of those in leadership can have on populations and mindsets. Rights group Amnesty International has released its annual report in which its findings illustrate that "politicians who have used a divisive and dehumanised rhetoric are creating a more divided and dangerous world."  Amnesty specifically singles out leaders like Donald Trump and those from Hungary, Turkey and the Philippines who it says "have used narratives of fear, blame and division" for their own political ends. An (short) interesting look at the impact leadership can have on shifts in Shared and Personal Knowledge. Divisive political rhetoric a danger to the world

In this piece, author Andrew Postman presents claims from his father's novel, Amusing Ourselves to Death , looks at the "predictions" his father presented about our "current public discourse" - concerns raised over patterns of social, media and personal behaviour in the 1980s.  While many media outlets are making almost daily allusions to George Orwell's famous dystopian fiction, Nineteen Eighty-Four , Postman highlights that it is more of an Aldous Huxley reality we need to fear - that Huxley's novel Brave New World  was a much closer illustration of social patterns than Orwell's text. An excerpt from Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985): "What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to pass...

This piece explores the process of finding a "sleeper" (a painting at auction that has been mislabeled or undervalued) and restoring it. When one is found, "they bid for it at a knock-down price before building a case in its favour by conserving it and carefully investigating any leads about its provenance. Upgrading a picture is a form of detective work, and once the case has been cracked, the sleeper can reappear on the market as a bona-fide masterpiece – with a price tag to match...One minute, a painting is unloved and overlooked; the next, everyone is cooing over it and calling it sublime." An interesting look at how perceptions of artwork shift drastically and the role intuition and sense perception play in identifying tell-tale features of an artist's style. How to discover a masterpiece

Quite an interesting look at the clash of scientific knowledge and cultural preferences - claims being made about "strategies" used to conceive males versus those offered by scientific experts.  'Tips' for conceiving a baby boy

Want to get up close and personal with famous artwork? Want to zoom in closer to van Gogh's "Starry Night" than any protective art collector would allow? Wishing you could tour rooms of famous museums from the comfort of your own laptops? Mr. Weatherell showed me this site where you can do each of these things and more!  Google has a wide range of virtual artistic and cultural exhibits on this website for those who need an immersion in the Arts (or an RLS for, say, an upcoming TOK assessment!) Google Arts & Culture

This piece presents the thoughts of professor AC Grayling on the "post-truth" campaign trend and why it is so controversial.  Grayling blames part of the trend on the 2008 financial crisis and "warns of the "corruption of intellectual integrity" and damage to "the whole fabric of democracy." The article also delves into the narcissism of social media and the problems that arise now that everyone can publish their opinions on the internet and that there seems to be an "online culture that can't distinguish between fact and fiction." What does post-truth mean for a philosopher?

In this 2008 talk, digital artist Chris Jordan illustrates what he sees as a problem in the United States - a "kind of anesthesia" where people are ignoring significant social issues and have seemingly lost their "sense of outrage...anger and...grief" about concerning cultural patterns. Using graphics, Jordan presents a series of supersized images that illustrate the "reality" of the enormous statistics and data surrounding these problematic patterns (numbers that we simply cannot imagine or comprehend). Through his art, he attempts to present the data in "a more universal language, that can be felt"  in order to evoke emotion and emphasize the dire need for social change. Turning powerful stats into art

As populations rise, and technology increases in terms of pervasiveness, so do algorithms become more and more used within society. This article looks at what they are, and the way in which they are being used. From the controversial "predictive policing" using compiled crime statistics over time, to influence on the stock market, from dating websites, to predicting hit records or influencing retail marketing, this article explores the methods through which we are making use of the plethora of data now available to us.  Dr Ian Brown, the associate director of Oxford University's Cyber Security Centre, says "We now spend so much of our time online that we are creating huge data-mining opportunities." How algorithms rule the world

"Historic buildings in the Islamic world are often covered with breathtakingly intricate geometric designs. Both artists and mathematicians have long puzzled over them, wondering how the patterns were created. Now, a Harvard physicist has some new ideas about the designs and the advanced math behind them." Complex patterns like this one, found in the archway of a Turkish mosque, were created by Islamic artisans in the 1400s. A pattern from a Turkish mausoleum, circa 1200 C.E. A reconstruction of the tile templates is overlaid at the bottom. Medieval Mosques Illuminated by Math