IB ToK Essay Titles: November 2019

Below are links to ideas on the themes of the six November 2019 IB ToK Essay topics.

• Theme 1. Acquisition of knowledge and responsibility for accuracy
• Theme 2. The nature of human beings and the production of knowledge (René Dubos quote)
• Theme 3. Shared knowledge, change over time and our confidence in current knowledge
• Theme 4. Observation and the production of knowledge
• Theme 5. Scepticism and knowledge production
• Theme 6. Knowledge and the discovery of significant truths (adapted from Magnus)

I briefly mention some points to consider for each title below; however, the personalised service I offer is tailored to each student.

The IB organization holds copyright in the theory of knowledge (TOK) prescribed titles and does not permit any reproduction of any IB materials on a public website without its prior written consent. Please click here if you wish to know any particular title verbatim.

You should be very wary of simply repeating phrases and words from ToK websites.

In particular, basing your essays on downloaded 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 November 2019 ToK essay topics, I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Theme 1: Acquisition of knowledge and responsibility for accuracy

Thoughts to consider with essay 1 include:

• the difference between accuracy and precision
• the relationship between responsibilities and rights
• are producers of knowledge also users of it?

If you require tailored help with topic 1 of the November 2019 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Theme 2: The nature of human beings and the production of knowledge (René Dubos quote)

Thoughts to consider with essay 2 include:

• can non-humans (e.g. animals) have knowledge?
• how is it possible for humans to share knowledge?
• what knowledge production systems do most humans share?

If you're considering answering topic 2 of the November 2019 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Theme 3: Shared knowledge, change over time and our confidence in current knowledge

Thoughts to consider with essay 3 include:

• the relation between confidence, probability & certainty
• the difference between knowing and believing
• under what circumstances does shared knowledge decrease over time?

If you'd like to discuss topic 3 of the November 2019 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Theme 4: Observation and the production of knowledge

Thoughts to consider with essay 4 include:

• the advantages and disadvantages of empiricism
• can all knowledge be fully captured in language?
• are introspection and imagination forms of self-observation?

If you'd like help with topic 4 of the November 2019 ToK essay titles, then I'd be delighted to receive your email:

Theme 5: Scepticism and knowledge production

Thoughts to consider with essay 5 include:

• are there different strengths of scepticism?
• is the strongest kind of scepticism rational?
• the relation between knowledge & certainty

If you're considering addressing topic 5 of the November 2019 ToK essay titles, then by all means email me:

Theme 6: Knowledge and the discovery of significant truths (adapted from Magnus)

Thoughts to consider with essay 6 include:

• the difference between theoretical and practical knowledge
• is a non-trivial truth the same as a significant truth?
• is significance a relative concept?

If you're writing on topic 6 of the November 2019 ToK essay titles, then I'd be happy to receive your email: