TOK Talk
Episodes
詮釋與知識 Interpretation as a reliable tool
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
在知識的產生過程中，詮釋在多大程度上是一種可靠的工具？ 在本期知識論清談中，我們有幸邀請到中國文化研究...
萬物皆數 嘉賓介紹Everything is Numbers
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
你在多大程度上認同「萬物皆數」這一論斷。是否萬物皆數，所有的知識和理解最終都可以用數字來詮釋和量化？...
知識與情境 Knowledge and Context
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
在獲取知識的過程中，我們對某事物的理解程度是否僅能達到我們對該事物情境的理解程度？帶著這個問題，我們...
Power in the medium
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2026 TOK Essay Title 3: Is the power of knowledge determined by the way in which the knowledge is conveyed? Discuss with reference to mathematics and...
Doubt is Central
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2026 TOK Essay Title 2: To what extent do you agree that doubt is central to the pursuit of knowledge? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge...
Observation is essential but flawed
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2026 TOK Essay Title 1: In the production of knowledge, does it matter that observation is an essential but flawed tool? Discuss with reference to the...
TOK Essay Guidance with John Sprague
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A fantastic professional learning workshop this week at our school led to a follow-up conversation with John Sprague, renowned TOK textbook writer and...
Ever Improving Tools
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Title 4: Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge Gu...
Finite Resources, Relentless Drive
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2025 TOK Essay Title 3: How can we reconcile the relentless drive to pursue knowledge with the finite resources we have available? Discuss with refere...
Do not ignore contradictory evidence
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2025 TOK Essay Title 1: Do historians and human scientists have an ethical obligation to follow the directive: “do not ignore contradictory evidence...
Fragile & Revered Knowledge
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2025 TOK Essay Title 2: Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of k...
Sense Of Wonder
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2025 TOK Essay Title 6: Does acquiring knowledge destroy our sense of wonder? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge Guest: Bob Scheer Sound...
Models are Wrong
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2025 TOK Essay Title 5: To what extent do you agree with the claim “all models are wrong, but some are useful” (attributed to George Box)? Discuss...
How do differing belief systems influence what we know? 不同的信仰体系如何影响我们的知识?
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
不同的信仰体系如何影响我们的知识? In this bilingual podcast, we explore the complex relationship between belief systems and our unders...
Who Owns Knowledge?
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Prompt 29. Who owns knowledge? LY’s first response: “Those who study, those who learn, those who share” is not a bad start. I wish this were th...
Role of Imagination!
17 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is one that I could discuss endlessly. Who doesn’t love imagination? I actually recorded this (and a few more episodes) nearly a year ago and h...
How important are Material Tools?
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I met with Jon Rees, another TOK Teacher (as well as teacher of Human Technologies and IB English) here in Hong Kong, and we discussed TOK Exhibition ...
Nothing more exciting than fresh ideas? 2024 TOK Essay Title 3
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
May 2024 TOK Essay Title 3 Nothing is more exciting than fresh ideas, so why are areas of knowledge often so slow to adopt them? Discuss with referenc...
Do we need custodians of knowledge? 2024 TOK Essay Title 5
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
May 2024 TOK Essay Title 5 Do we need custodians of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge. I met with Kevin and recorded this,...
Specialization vs. Generalization: 2024 TOK Essay Title 2
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
May 2024 TOK Essay Title 2: How can we reconcile the opposing demands for specialization and generalization in the production of knowledge? Discuss wi...
Recent Evidence: 2024 TOK Essay Title 6
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
May 2024 TOK Essay Title 6 Are we too quick to assume that the most recent evidence is inevitably the strongest? Discuss with reference to the natural...
Subjectivity in Arts & History: 2024 TOK Essay Title 1
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
May 2024 TOK Essay Title 1: Is subjectivity overly celebrated in the arts but unfairly condemned in history? Discuss with reference to the arts and hi...
Does Some Knowledge Belong to Communities Of Knowers?
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talked about TOK Exhibition prompt 14: Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers? This is a good one with links to...
美感的根源和本质 Origin & Essence of Beauty
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
你為什麼會覺得某種存在很美？美感的根源和本质是什么？美感是个人、某种文化所特有的、还是整个世界共有的...
Challenges raised by communication of knowledge
02 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I met with Bill Kyzner (IB Teacher of Global Politics) and Garrett McKee (IB Teacher of Design Technology) to discuss Prompt 10: What...
歷史真相 Truth & History
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
歷史是什麼？我們多大程度上可以探尋到歷史的真項？如果歷史真相難以證實,這是否意味著有關該歷史事件的各種...
Constraints On Pursuit Of Knowledge
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently I met with Naomi Chevannes who teaches Design Technology here in Hong Kong. We discussed TOK Exhibition Prompt 15: What constraints are there...
不同文化,不同語言,不同的世界? Different culture, different language, different worlds?
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of a series of Bilingual TOK Talk Podcasts! Today I met with four Chinese speaking colleagues to discuss the question: 具有不同文...
Is Bias Inevitable In The Production Of Knowledge?
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined for another session by Ms. Virginia Voigt, Psychology teacher and we discussed TOK Exhibition Prompt 12: Is Bias inevitable in the ...
Are Some Types Of Knowledge Less Open To Interpretation Than Others
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Prompt 9: Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others? In this episode, I met with one of my favourite teachers here in HK, A...
Bonus Episode: All the titles 2023… beware!
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After we finished the last episode, Kevin Hoye and I kept our conversation going about each of the titles, and I decided to keep the mic on to capture...
Visual Representations: 2023 TOK Essay Title 5
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I enjoyed tea and Talked some TOK with Kevin Hoye (IB English Literature and TOK Teacher) about 2023 TOK Essay Title 5: Are visual representatio...
Replicability: 2023 TOK Essay Title 1
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sat down with Donna Gee (IB Design Technology Teacher) and Michael Stewart (IB Psychology and TOK Teacher) to unpack and wrestle wi...
Bubbles: 2023 TOK Essay Title 3
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talked to Ian Galley (IBDP English Language & Literature) Nicole Mamphey (Science and Applied Ethics) about TOK Essay Title 3: Does...
Astonishing Power: 2023 TOK Essay Title 4
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I met with Dr. PS Yuen and Janka Steenkamp (both IB English teachers to talk about Essay Title 4: Do you agree that it is “astonish...
Methodologies: 2023 TOK Essay Title 6
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I had a really insightful discussion with IB Theatre teacher, Alex Campion. We talked about May 2023 TOK Essay Title 6: To what extent is the kn...
That which can or cannot be explained: 2023 TOK Essay Title 2
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I had a coffee with Bill Kyzner and Bob Scheer and we unpacked the 2023 May Title 2: For artists and natural scientists, which is more important...
To What Extent Is Certainty Attainable?
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I met with Dr. Rachel Oser, (Science Teacher) & 孫秀東 Xiudong Sun, (Chinese Literature and TOK Teacher) to talk about Exhibition Prompt 8: ...
On What Grounds Might We Doubt A Claim?
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
TOK Exhibition Prompt 4: On what grounds might we doubt a claim? To unravel this question, I met with Sarah Rodgers (DP Chemistry & MYP Science Teach...
What Are The Implications of Having, or Not Having, Knowledge?
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I sat down with Jim Faherty, an experienced University Guidance Counsellor here in Hong Kong to exchange views on Exhibition Prompt 7 What are t...
How Does The Way That We Organize Or Classify Knowledge Affect What We Know
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined by Liu Yu, aka Mr. LY, teacher of Chinese Humanities and Assistant Principal at ISF Academy in HK. We discuss Prompt 6: How does th...
What counts as good evidence for a claim?
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sat down with DP Design Teacher Donna Gee and DP Global Politics Teacher Bill Kyzner to discuss TOK Exhibition Prompt 5: What count...
Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Prompt 11: Can new knowledge change established values and beliefs? I know this will likely bother anyone who is interested in order and logic, but I...
Is Some Knowledge More Useful Than Others?
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second episode in a series exploring the TOK Exhibition Prompts. Today I’m joined by Adam Walker, expert and teacher of Theatre. We get ...
What Counts As Knowledge?
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first in a series exploring the TOK Exhibition Prompts. In these episodes, I don't intend to answer the questions, but rather explore them...
Do good explanations have to be true?
20 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s topic is a previous TOK Essay title: “Do good explanations have to be true?” To help me explore this question, I am joined by four fell...
Statistics Conceal as much as they Reveal
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we delve into the world of Statistics, and unpack how it can be a tool that can both reveal and conceal. To help me with this complicated questi...
The Roles of Bias in the Pursuit of Knowledge
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me today are Dr. Rachel Oser: a Research Scientist & Teacher, Mr. David Fenwick: a Physics, Mathematics and Engineering Teacher, and Mr. Kevin...
Interview with an IB Graduate
09 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sat down and talked with my oldest daughter, who graduated last May from an IB school in Shanghai and is now studying Art at Parson...
Intro to Ethics
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This episode I give an introduction to four main theories or perspectives on ethics: Virtue ethics, Deontological Ethics, Consequentialism and Utilita...
Reason? Intuition, Faith, Imagination!
31 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Should we as a global society value knowledge produced with reason over all other ways of knowing? In this episode, I explore a little more about the ...
What's in a name?
19 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back for episode 2! In this episode I introduce my cohost, Hobbes and together we discuss the first way of knowing: Language. We ask and explo...
TOK.. What's that!?
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to TOK Talk, a new podcast about Theory of Knowledge. What's that you say? Well listen to my first podcast to get a basic understanding, and s...