IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 1.1.1 What This Part of TOK Is Really About Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 1.1.1 What This Part of TOK Is Really About Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

You Are The Knower

In TOK, a knower is anyone who takes in information and tries to make sense of it.
That includes you scrolling through TikTok, your friend explaining why their favorite team is the best, and your grandmother sharing family stories.

Note

Analogy

Every time you learn something, you become a knower.

Your Background Changes Everything

Different people will take the same piece of information and understand it differently.
Not because some are smarter, but because they bring different experiences to the table.

Example

Take Pearl Harbor as an example.
- American student learns about Pearl Harbor: "Japan launched a surprise attack that brought America into World War II."
- Japanese student learns about Pearl Harbor: "Japan attacked Pearl Harbor as part of the Pacific War that had been ongoing since 1937."

Analogy

Think of knowledge like looking at a house.
Someone standing in front sees the door and windows.
Someone standing behind sees the backyard and garage.
Again, it’s the same house but different perspectives, can make two (or more) things true at the same time.

Three Ways Your Perspective Shapes What You Know

1. Cultural Lens: A filter for information

Take medicine as an example:
1. Western-raised student: "If it's not scientifically tested, it's not real medicine."

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

You Are The Knower

In TOK, a knower is anyone who takes in information and tries to make sense of it.
That includes you scrolling through TikTok, your friend explaining why their favorite team is the best, and your grandmother sharing family stories.

Note

Analogy

Every time you learn something, you become a knower.

Your Background Changes Everything

Different people will take the same piece of information and understand it differently.
Not because some are smarter, but because they bring different experiences to the table.

Example

Take Pearl Harbor as an example.
- American student learns about Pearl Harbor: "Japan launched a surprise attack that brought America into World War II."
- Japanese student learns about Pearl Harbor: "Japan attacked Pearl Harbor as part of the Pacific War that had been ongoing since 1937."

Analogy

Think of knowledge like looking at a house.
Someone standing in front sees the door and windows.
Someone standing behind sees the backyard and garage.
Again, it’s the same house but different perspectives, can make two (or more) things true at the same time.

Three Ways Your Perspective Shapes What You Know

1. Cultural Lens: A filter for information

Take medicine as an example:
1. Western-raised student: "If it's not scientifically tested, it's not real medicine."

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

IB Theory of Knowledge 1.1.1 What This Part of TOK Is Really About Notes

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

You Are The Knower

Your Background Changes Everything

Three Ways Your Perspective Shapes What You Know

1. Cultural Lens: A filter for information

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

You Are The Knower

Your Background Changes Everything

Three Ways Your Perspective Shapes What You Know

1. Cultural Lens: A filter for information

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account