IBDP TOK - Core Concepts & Definitions

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**Theory of Knowledge (TOK)**

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A core component of the IBDP that encourages students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know. It links academic disciplines to broader ways of thinking.

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**The Knower**

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The individual engaged in the process of knowing. In TOK, students reflect on themselves as knowers by examining their own perspectives, biases, and assumptions.

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**Knowledge Question (KQ)**

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An open question about knowledge itself, rather than a specific subject-specific question. A KQ is critical, focusing on how knowledge is constructed, validated, or evaluated.

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**Scope of Knowledge**

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The extent, range, or boundaries of a specific area of knowledge or claim. It defines what is included and, crucially, what is left out or marginalized in a discipline.

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**Perspective**

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A specific point of view or way of looking at the world. In TOK, acknowledging that different knowers have different perspectives is key to understanding the complexity of knowledge.