IB ToK Essay Titles and Topics: May 2015

Here are links to the full titles of the six May 2015 IB ToK Essay topics. I briefly mention some points to consider for each title; however, the personalised service I offer is tailored to each student.

• Title 1: Click here for ideas
• Title 2: Click here for ideas
• Title 3: Click here for ideas
• Title 4: Click here for ideas
• Title 5: Click here for ideas
• Title 6: Click here for ideas

You should be extremely cautious in simply repeating phrases and words from ToK websites.

In particular, using downloaded ToK essay templates carries considerable risks. First, you don't know with whom you are dealing.

Secondly, your essay will share the same structure as many others and will likely be considered as plagiarised. As an experienced philosophy and ToK examiner I know how easy it is to identify essays with a common source.

At any time, you can access free podcasts, videos, and articles, relevant to your IB ToK essay or presentation, from the site's social media pages.

The posts also provide links to discussions of WoKs, AoKs and real-life examples; so it's worth following or liking them:

If you require personal help choosing your May 2015 ToK essay topics, I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Title 1: There is no such thing as a neutral question. Evaluate this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 1 include:

• varieties of wh-question
• the presuppositions and assumptions underlying questions
• the conceptual scheme required to understand questions

If you require tailored help with topic 1 of the May 2015 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Title 2: "There are only two ways in which humankind can produce knowledge: through passive observation or through active experiment." To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Thoughts to consider with essay 2 include:

• ways of knowing other than observation and experiment
• the distinction between a priori and a posteriori knowledge
• what is meant by the "production" of knowledge?

If you're considering answering topic 2 of the May 2015 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Title 3: "There is no reason why we cannot link facts and theories across disciplines and create a common groundwork of explanation." To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Thoughts to consider with essay 3 include:

• the idea of a single, unified conceptual scheme
• the concept of explanatory reduction
• the alleged holism of knowledge

If you're considering answering topic 3 of the May 2015 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Title 4: With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape personal knowledge.

Thoughts to consider with essay 4 include:

• the distinction between shared and private knowledge
• aspects of self-knowledge that are shared, and those that are private
• the role of conceptual schemes in inflecting our perceptions

If you're considering answering topic 4 of the May 2015 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Title 5: "Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgments." To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Thoughts to consider with essay 5 include:

• the distinction between innate and unreflective judgements
• the distinction between first and second nature
• why aren't instinctive judgements ways of knowing themselves?

If you're considering answering topic 5 of the May 2015 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Title 6: "The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in our personal lives." To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Thoughts to consider with essay 6 include:

• the distinction between practical and theoretical knowledge
• the many purposes of theoretical knowledge
• is meaning in our personal lives discovered or created?

If you're considering answering topic 6 of the May 2015 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email: