What is Truth?
A one-day conference particularly to support teachers of the IB Theory of Knowledge
but also suitable for teachers of Philosophy, General Studies and Critical Thinking 16-19
Exclusive Teaching DVD Supplied to Delegates
with Dr. Peter Vardy, Heythrop College, University of London
(keynote speaker at the IBO International Values conference in Hanoi)
New York 17th February 2010
Prague 17th May 2010
Geneva 21st May 2010
London 31st May 2010
Hong Kong 12th July 2010
Melbourne 5th August 2010
Singapore 16th August 2010
but also suitable for teachers of Philosophy, General Studies and Critical Thinking 16-19
Exclusive Teaching DVD Supplied to Delegates
with Dr. Peter Vardy, Heythrop College, University of London
(keynote speaker at the IBO International Values conference in Hanoi)
New York 17th February 2010
Prague 17th May 2010
Geneva 21st May 2010
London 31st May 2010
Hong Kong 12th July 2010
Melbourne 5th August 2010
Singapore 16th August 2010
SESSIONS INCLUDE
What is Truth?
This is the central question that courses in the Theory of Knowledge and Critical Thinking are trying to get young people to address. Dr. Peter Vardy has spent his career reflecting on it and has written several books (not least ‘What is Truth’) which consider the various philosophical approaches to answering the question and their practical implications. This session will set out the history of the conflict between absolutist & relativist, correspondence & coherence, realist & anti-realist approaches to truth, from the classical era to the present day, and will suggest engaging ways of tackling the topic in the classroom. The particular problem of language will be considered. A full, editable PowerPoint will be provided, along with a copy of Dr. Vardy’s book ‘What is Truth’ for each delegate.
The Good: Truth in Ethics, Politics and Law
The word ‘good’ can be understood in so many different ways. This session will begin with a survey of different approaches to meta-ethics (naturalism, non-naturalism, non-cognitivism, egoism, intuitionism) before examining the Natural Law approach to ethics, law and politics in more detail. Rooted in the philosophy of Aristotle and underpinning the ethical theories of Aquinas, Kant, Mill and modern Virtue Ethicists, the jurisprudence of Dworkin and Finnis and the Political theories of both Rawls and the Neo-Cons, the Natural Law approach is of central importance – but it is not without controversy. Full notes, a PowerPoint and a video on Ethics, suitable for use in the classroom, will be provided to accompany the session.
The search for Objectivity: Truth in Mathematics and Science.
This session will outline the attempts made to obtain objective truth by Mathematicians and Scientists from the time of Aristotle to the present day. Particular consideration will be given to the claims of verificationists and methodological naturalists, who claim that the only truth is that which can be accessed empirically or reproduced in any laboratory. The session will end by weighing up the limitations of scientific and mathematical knowledge. As Einstein put it, "Not everything that can be measured is important, and not everything that is important can be measured.” The place of truth in literature and religion will be considered. A full PowerPoint will be provided.
From Representation to Post-Modernism: Truth in Art
We live in a post-modern world, yet few students understand what post-modernism is, its origins, or the effect it has had on culture, architecture, history or art. In this session the cultural influences that led to decline in confidence in ideas of truth, justice, meaning and value will be traced using art as a medium and the impact of contemporary artists such as Cy Twombly and Tracey Emin will be explained and evaluated. This will be an invaluable resource to help students understand the cultural shifts that have taken place and the emphasis placed on deconstructing old certainties by many contemporary artists and philosophers. A full PowerPoint will be provided.
FOCUS Immanuel Kant: Being Human
In 1770 Immanuel Kant read the works of the empiricist David Hume, claiming that it ‘awoke me from my dogmatic slumbers and gave a completely different direction to my enquiries’. His paradigm having altered, ten years later Kant began to publish his complete new philosophy, built from first principles and outlining what we can know, how we should behave and what the limits of our understanding can be. His work stands at the foundations of modern philosophies of Mathematics, Logic, Science, Ethics, Politics and Aesthetics and above all, reflects critically on what it is to be human. His tombstone carried the inscription ‘two things ever fill me with awe the starry skies above and the moral law within’.
This session will examine the work of one philosopher in more detail supporting teacher subject-knowledge, giving materials to enrich Theory of Knowledge or General Studies courses and suggesting ways in which students can be encouraged to extend and support their interest in the questions raised in Theory of Knowledge discussions with reference to scholarship. A full PowerPoint, detailed notes and an extract from an unpublished textbook will be provided to accompany this session.
What is Truth?
This is the central question that courses in the Theory of Knowledge and Critical Thinking are trying to get young people to address. Dr. Peter Vardy has spent his career reflecting on it and has written several books (not least ‘What is Truth’) which consider the various philosophical approaches to answering the question and their practical implications. This session will set out the history of the conflict between absolutist & relativist, correspondence & coherence, realist & anti-realist approaches to truth, from the classical era to the present day, and will suggest engaging ways of tackling the topic in the classroom. The particular problem of language will be considered. A full, editable PowerPoint will be provided, along with a copy of Dr. Vardy’s book ‘What is Truth’ for each delegate.
The Good: Truth in Ethics, Politics and Law
The word ‘good’ can be understood in so many different ways. This session will begin with a survey of different approaches to meta-ethics (naturalism, non-naturalism, non-cognitivism, egoism, intuitionism) before examining the Natural Law approach to ethics, law and politics in more detail. Rooted in the philosophy of Aristotle and underpinning the ethical theories of Aquinas, Kant, Mill and modern Virtue Ethicists, the jurisprudence of Dworkin and Finnis and the Political theories of both Rawls and the Neo-Cons, the Natural Law approach is of central importance – but it is not without controversy. Full notes, a PowerPoint and a video on Ethics, suitable for use in the classroom, will be provided to accompany the session.
The search for Objectivity: Truth in Mathematics and Science.
This session will outline the attempts made to obtain objective truth by Mathematicians and Scientists from the time of Aristotle to the present day. Particular consideration will be given to the claims of verificationists and methodological naturalists, who claim that the only truth is that which can be accessed empirically or reproduced in any laboratory. The session will end by weighing up the limitations of scientific and mathematical knowledge. As Einstein put it, "Not everything that can be measured is important, and not everything that is important can be measured.” The place of truth in literature and religion will be considered. A full PowerPoint will be provided.
From Representation to Post-Modernism: Truth in Art
We live in a post-modern world, yet few students understand what post-modernism is, its origins, or the effect it has had on culture, architecture, history or art. In this session the cultural influences that led to decline in confidence in ideas of truth, justice, meaning and value will be traced using art as a medium and the impact of contemporary artists such as Cy Twombly and Tracey Emin will be explained and evaluated. This will be an invaluable resource to help students understand the cultural shifts that have taken place and the emphasis placed on deconstructing old certainties by many contemporary artists and philosophers. A full PowerPoint will be provided.
FOCUS Immanuel Kant: Being Human
In 1770 Immanuel Kant read the works of the empiricist David Hume, claiming that it ‘awoke me from my dogmatic slumbers and gave a completely different direction to my enquiries’. His paradigm having altered, ten years later Kant began to publish his complete new philosophy, built from first principles and outlining what we can know, how we should behave and what the limits of our understanding can be. His work stands at the foundations of modern philosophies of Mathematics, Logic, Science, Ethics, Politics and Aesthetics and above all, reflects critically on what it is to be human. His tombstone carried the inscription ‘two things ever fill me with awe the starry skies above and the moral law within’.
This session will examine the work of one philosopher in more detail supporting teacher subject-knowledge, giving materials to enrich Theory of Knowledge or General Studies courses and suggesting ways in which students can be encouraged to extend and support their interest in the questions raised in Theory of Knowledge discussions with reference to scholarship. A full PowerPoint, detailed notes and an extract from an unpublished textbook will be provided to accompany this session.
