Please write a TOK (theory of knowledge) essay on the question provided: There is a sharp line between describing something and offering an explanation of it’ To what extent do you agree with this claim? Please make sure that the work is 100% original and plagiarism free except for things that are referenced. Make sure that this work is not going to get sent off to anybody else as IBO checks everything!
Isn’t description a kind of explanation?
I.e. ‘the tree is tall and has green pine needles’ this kind of predication relies on all sorts of language and conceptual apparatus – it requires an understanding of subject and verb, and adjective.
Isn’t that a kind of explanation of what is there before you. I.e. a framework within which something can be described.
The predication is also not private in the sense that it uses public language, and language is there to describe private sense data and share it with the world, again arguably a type of explanation.
So one could argue that the line is not clear, that an entire explanatory framework precedes description.
Nevertheless there is a working difference between say facts and theories. Facts are descriptions of the world, theories attempt to make sense of those facts.
Please list two arguments explaining and evaluating each argument. (one argument agree, one argument dont agree)
