ToK Final Essay

The traditional TOK diagram indicates four ways of knowing. Propose the inclusion of a fifth way of knowing selected from intuition, memory or imagination, and explore the knowledge issues it may raise in two areas of knowledge. The study of Theory of Knowledge (TOK) indicates four distinct ways of knowing: sense perception, emotion, reason and language; however, in this essay I will argue for the inclusion of intuition as a fifth way of knowing. Intuition is that moment of enlightenment that is unexpected in which something is revealed to give one a greater understanding on a problem or puzzle or issue of concern that is perplexing. A knowledge issue worth examining in relation to the role intuition plays in these areas of knowledge is: How does intuition lead to knowledge acquisition in the natural sciences and in ethics?

Personal intuitive insight has to be in some form of communication which conforms to requirements of public knowledge, natural sciences conforming to scientific method to test the truth, ethics examining its ethical structure to test to what extent our personal insight can be applied to public knowledge. One may ask, “why is intuition valuable as a way of knowing?” The brilliance of intuition is such that it