tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168384892024-03-25T00:09:21.889-06:00PHS Theory of KnowledgeThe purpose of this blog is to open a discussion forum for ideas, ramblings, debates, and random thoughts that pass through the heads of the students presently in Poudre High School's Theory of Knowledge Program.J.Malonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172827782199289643noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-17252032904971505302011-10-14T12:30:00.002-06:002011-10-14T12:33:48.281-06:00Hey Everybody!Karam and Ali here, wishing you all a merry hello from the futures!Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02136727290152732502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-54568092052480696042009-04-10T16:26:00.002-06:002009-04-10T16:58:30.921-06:00What would be the best way to resolve various crises in the Middle East?Though the documentary shown during the breakout session today did not relate directly to the issues in the Middle East, various conflicts and disagreements did come up from time to time, namely the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Iraq. I suppose you could include Afghanistan and Iran in this, as well. <div><br /></div><div>Now, in terms of circles of knowers, I'm pretty far removed from these conflicts, though I know there are Diploma Programme IB students at Poudre who are quite close. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nevertheless, these are my ideas about how some of them <i>might</i> be resolved, or simply my opinions on what would be most just: </div><div>Israel/Palestine: Either allow the formation of a Palestinian state from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, put the region under control of the UN with input from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, or eliminate the West Bank and Gaza Strip zones and incorporate the country under joint leadership, perhaps with a legislature composed half of Palestinians and half of Israelis and two prime ministers. </div><div>Iraq: The US needs to withdraw its troops, if not immediately definitely within a year or a year and a half. I'm also aware that there are conflicts between Shiite (Sh'ia) and Sunni Muslims as well as the Kurds. So far as I can tell, one of the main conflicts is that the plurality of the population is Shiite, so the Sunnis (who were in control prior to the US-led invasion) are concerned that a Shiite majority in the legislature will lead to the government ignoring the needs of Sunni Iraqis. The Kurds, on the other hand, want their independence, though I'm not clear on why it is denied them. I think the best solution seems to give the Kurds their independence (if this means taking territory containing a Kurdish majority from other countries to the north of Iraq do so). The Sunnis can either form their own government or join neighbouring Saudi Arabia (as I understand natural and economic resources are scarce in central Iraq, which is primarily populated by Sunnis). The Shiites can choose a new capital and form their own government in the South (primarily populated by Shiites). The other option is to either stick with the current government and try to even out the majorities either with or without the Kurds. </div><div><br /></div><div>Disclaimer: these are to an extent just ramblings. As I said before, I am not very close to the issues mentioned here at all, and don't mean to offend anyone. Those who are more informed that I (Karam? Meredith?), please shed some more light on the issues and let us know how you think they might be resolved. </div>Ian Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17308472410612781056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-80256190849838019332009-04-10T09:57:00.003-06:002009-04-10T09:59:57.096-06:00Seminar MovieSo I couldn't post on the seminar blog so i decided to post here!!!!! So in the movie there was one thing that i noticed that didn't really seem fair. It seemed like through out the movie, all of the countries were expected to know about America. and then they made fun of the Americans for not knowing about other cultures. It was like they expected the US to know to know about 5 other cultures when they only knew about 1. It would be interesting to ask them about cultures other than the US and see what they knew<br /><br />VincentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-17195685501411220832009-03-04T10:59:00.001-07:002009-03-04T11:01:32.639-07:00Magistrate Jostad has sent you an email!Hey, It's a great day to be alive.<br /><br />A new decision out of the Colorado Supreme Court today --- reversing thedistrict court's suppression of various statements --- Judge O'Hara up in Steamboat --- based upon the fact that the defendant was not in custody..... Well, I, of course, thought of you IB students --- you could read this decision and know what it means!! Might be a good question on an exam or something, eh? <br /><br />Here's the opinion: <a href="https://owa.psdschools.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cobar.org/opinions/opinion.cfm?opinionid=7034%26courtid=2" target="_blank">http://www.cobar.org/opinions/opinion.cfm?opinionid=7034&courtid=2</a>lisakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12479320387122386120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-49106608781467306662009-02-11T12:14:00.002-07:002009-02-11T12:21:00.263-07:00Ms. King's class EQ testIf you are in Ms. King's third period class, please take the emotional intelligence test at the link below prior to coming to class on Friday. Please bring in a printout of your results.<br /><br /><a href="http://queendom.com/tests/take_test.php?idRegTest=1121">http://queendom.com/tests/take_test.php?idRegTest=1121</a><br /><br />Cheers,<br />Group 3Ilyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13096992196946161403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-66230880469394477712009-01-30T23:00:00.003-07:002009-01-30T23:09:25.502-07:00Logic and Girl PowerMy sister sent me this video today. (It is the entrance video for this website which I have included below.) I doubt that she wanted me to dissect it for logical fallacies, but I guess that is sometimes what happens with an IB education. I think that video does have a very interesting message behind it. But what logical fallacies are they willing to commit to make a more powerful message?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.girleffect.org/" target="_blank">www.girleffect.org</a><br /><br />WATCH THE VIDEO BEFORE YOU READ ON, PLEASE.<br />The one generalization that bugs me the most in this video is that of the Girl in poverty. Granted, that is often the situation (from what I know) and is how the western media often displays it . . . but aren't they degrading the people which they are fighting to help? Are they dehumanizing them by clumping them all together?andihayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13755474435033956085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-10243967074305371582009-01-30T22:58:00.003-07:002009-01-30T23:14:08.108-07:00Ethics in regards to law and justice... in a theatrical formatI just went to see <span style="font-style:italic;">Lobby Hero</span> at the Bas Bleu Theatre and found it to be quite interesting to look at from a ToK perspective. The play discusses ethics, the law, and justice - somewhat applicable to our recent discussions, but also interesting of its own right. Just throwing this out to anyone here interested in theatre and ethics, among other things... more information can be found at the <a href="http://www.basbleu.org/plays_events.php">Bas Bleu website</a>. [a warning: due to the setting of the show, profanity is very common in the dialogue...]<br /><br />If/once you've seen the play, let me know what you think in the comments - if you haven't seen it yet and want to, beware of spoilers....Ilyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13096992196946161403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-21113699031585594602009-01-29T18:43:00.002-07:002009-01-29T18:53:26.628-07:00Logical fallacies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I stumbled upon this today while browsing the web, and given our recent lessons on logical fallacies, felt it appropriate to post here....</span></span><br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/how_it_works.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 410px; height: 211px;" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/how_it_works.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Source: <a href="http://xkcd.com/385/">http://xkcd.com/385/</a> - xkcd is a webcomic written by a former NASA roboticist and also has several other comics regarding various ToK topics...</span></span>Ilyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13096992196946161403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-15660480011136597582009-01-29T16:52:00.001-07:002009-01-29T16:55:44.178-07:00Change?<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/politics/2009/01/28/cttb.campbell.brown.lobbyists.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript><br /><br />Obama promised change for the government and for the people of America. Is he really going to bring change to Capitol Hill?Presidenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527490882110502985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-73285506912722862422009-01-22T21:10:00.002-07:002009-01-22T21:12:18.278-07:00Black first family 'changes everything'http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/15/obama.family/index.html<br /><br />I thought this was a very interesting article, and it certainly brings up some good questions. Is the media still portraying Blacks in a "dark light?"Presidenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527490882110502985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-80182331122348370292009-01-16T11:55:00.002-07:002009-01-16T12:02:17.957-07:00define: tortureI thought I understood this unit, but apparently not. Perhaps this is because I have accepted the idea that there is an absolute truth to everything, and whether or not we can know it, it is always there. So, if something is, according to absolute truth based on reports from victims, torture, then how can it simply be defined differently, or remain undefined, and be acceptible under the Geneva Convention? Why, if something is not directly labeled by a government as torture, but <em>is</em>, why is it okay? I don't understand.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09901048708392542359noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-24910966299579132972009-01-16T11:52:00.003-07:002009-01-16T11:53:57.935-07:00Torture's Terrible TollAfter reading the two positions on the issue of torture by John McCain and Sam Harris, where do you stand on the issue? Why? Which justifications and Ways of Knowing were the most convincing to you?J.Malonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172827782199289643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-62978538838658497922009-01-10T06:15:00.002-07:002009-01-10T06:18:04.643-07:00Belief-O-MaticIf you have been neglecting the seminar blog, there is an interesting post on religion that I recommend taking a peek at. Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589173382319257570noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-7903002800629338652008-12-18T10:20:00.003-07:002008-12-18T10:48:58.950-07:00Speaking in BubblesGoing back to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Persuaders</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, </span>the film we watched two breakout sessions ago about the cultures of marketing and advertising, the clip embedded in title addresses public advertising. The man in the video created the bubble project as a way to inspire dialogue about public advertising, giving the people the chance to talk back to the advertisers and get their voice in the public realm. While he believes that the corporations win with the bubble project because it brings attention to their ads, it also gives the power back to the people/ the consumers, allowing them to respond to product given to them. How does allowing people to add their own comments and language to the ad change the carefully crafted image/message the "persuaders" in the media put out?<div><br /></div><div>(When you click on the link give the video a second to load, the page will initially look like there's no video but if you give it a minute it will buffer and appear)</div>Pfiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873273163506911115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-66361753101825116942008-12-17T20:45:00.002-07:002008-12-17T20:48:13.423-07:00Is information obtained in an altered mindstate valid?In experiments done with psychedelic mushrooms, a significant number of patients reported having a positive spiritual experience with the drug. Because knowledge was gained in an altered state of conscious, is it valid?Big Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273004539170778529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-73864883957751518062008-12-09T19:38:00.003-07:002008-12-09T19:44:17.995-07:00Genetic Testing on children... To see which sports their bodies are better suited forSo I saw a news report on 9News about this topic then went to research it more and I found this article writen by the New York Times. It basically talks about a genetic test that can be performed on children to which sports they are likely to excel in. All I am asking is you take a look at this article, possibly do more research if still not understanding the article... and respond.hockeysuto22http://www.blogger.com/profile/06150277818283236034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-90898615740628686022008-12-09T10:44:00.001-07:002008-12-09T10:44:35.285-07:00The Power of SlangAs we begin our look at Language as a WoK, we are going to consider how a specific language can define a culture, and in this instance, a generation. As part of the Slang Assignment (if you haven't been introduced to it, you will), we want you to consider and use the following slang from the decades listed below. Also provided is an online slang dictionary that will help you find any words that you are having a hard time finding. <br /><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/20sSlang.doc">1920's</a><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/30sSlang.doc">1930's</a><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/40sSlang.doc">1940's</a><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/50sSlang.doc">1950's</a><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/60sSlang.doc">1960's</a><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/70sSlang.doc">1970's</a><br /><a href="http://staffweb.psdschools.org/jmalone/DWwebpage/assets/TOK/Slang/80sSlang.doc">1980's</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.alphadictionary.com/slang">Slang Dictionary</a><br /><br />If you wish to print these lists for your use, please do so at home. They are long and would be a huge waste of paper. Have Fun...J.Malonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172827782199289643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-5721860785300906702008-11-19T21:45:00.003-07:002008-11-19T21:49:07.798-07:00Dark Matter in the newsIt seems we're not the only ones interested in dark matter these days. Check out this article from MSNBC about the latest forray into the field. Does this type of study and mass media coverage change your opinion about dark matter at all? Does it validate Dr. P's presentation? Does it add authority and further evidence, or does it raise more questions?lisakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12479320387122386120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-78450212347084049502008-11-16T19:14:00.003-07:002008-11-16T19:22:17.901-07:00Dove - Evolution<p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iYhCn0jf46U&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iYhCn0jf46U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p>I know we just wrapped up sense perception, but I saw this video at a conference this weekend and found it fitting. When it was used at the conference, it was talking about how we shouldn't buy into the superficial lies that we are ugly. My question is, even if everyone saw this video, do you think the media would still have a voice of what is "beautiful" and what isn't?</p>Presidenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527490882110502985noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-66405678529881470702008-11-16T15:18:00.002-07:002008-11-16T15:32:49.383-07:00When is Art Art?I am not in HL art, though I know many of you are. I have always struggled with the idea of when art is a masterpiece, and when it just becomes a random splattering of paint on a canvas. I'm sure most of us have had those moments when we looked at a picture and thought, "Wow, I think I did something similar to this in first grade." My question is, at what point do these pieces cease to be meaningful (or are they always meaningful?), and on a different note, what makes them so valuable?<br />Please, I'm curious to hear the different opinions on this matter, but to get the conversation going, I'll start with my own.<br />I'm not an artist, as I have previously mentioned. So, I think, it is not such a surprise that I don't consider many forms of splatter paint to be art. If it is something that anyone could do, then how does it really have any meaning? Similarly, pieces of art that are purposely formatted after certain artists or styles also lacks individuality, in my eyes. Without being a new idea, I don't see how art (and therefore the universal meaning it conveys) could progress.<br />- Lauren P.Lauren Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06187173273587796802noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-82233894523311319852008-11-08T15:25:00.002-07:002008-11-08T15:38:39.137-07:00More on why dark matter mattersAs I continue to reflect on Dr. P's lecture, there are several questions and considerations I still want to discuss. One in particular is WHY? I feel very removed from dark matter--I cannot perceive it in my daily existence--and I don't know what bearing, if any, proving or disproving its existence has on my life. I feel little compulsion to know more. What justifications might scientists like Dr. P have for a project that seems so purely "knowledge for knowledge's sake?" Is it mere curiosity? Is it a matter of ethics? Of faith? Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11589173382319257570noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-40915460158981203942008-10-30T18:07:00.004-06:002008-10-30T18:17:13.775-06:00A Death in the FamilyThis article totally changed the way I view the Iraq war. I think I belong to a unique community of knowers, and my political views are pretty complex, though I generally trend liberal. In terms of foreign policy, this article changed my foreign policy views from isolationism to interventionism. This quote in particular struck me:<div><br /></div><div>"Consider that there are 19 year old soldiers from the Midwest who have never touched a college campus or a protest who have done more to uphold the universal legitimacy of representative government and individual rights by placing themselves between Iraqi voting lines and homicidal religious fanatics"</div><div><br /></div><div>The link is in the title. Please take five minutes and read it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thoughts?</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Meredith Wheelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15743664336164175809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-61973220452819351262008-10-27T21:11:00.002-06:002008-10-27T21:23:13.713-06:00Seminar QuestionsHello all TOKers... After the Dark Matter presentation by Dr. Polhemus, please surf over to the <a href="http://phstokseminar.blogspot.com/">Seminar Blog</a> and jump in the conversation. Help out those not involved in TOK yet by modeling how to justify your opinions. Answer the questions posted by Ms. King by this Friday. Thanks.J.Malonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172827782199289643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-60209970947214224362008-10-21T22:01:00.002-06:002008-10-21T22:03:42.479-06:00Bite Back CampaignI personally think that everyone should help out with this cause, and should definitely participate in one the Clementia Project events (go to <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/clementiaproject">www.freewebs.com/clementiaproject</a> for more information). However, through the eyes of TOK, I want to know how many other people can identify some of the knowledge issues and the way they present it to you.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ci3nK0R0rk0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ci3nK0R0rk0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Presidenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01527490882110502985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16838489.post-14974165759805287412008-10-16T20:04:00.003-06:002008-10-16T20:05:48.076-06:00The presidentsso everyone... the presidential election is coming up and I want to know.<br /><br />How do you feel about obama vs mcain?<br /><br />after that<br /><br />Do you feel that they justify their points well, what knowledge issues are there in their statements... stuff like that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com13