Monthly Archives: September 2013

Metaphors We Live By and Metaphors in Science

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Were you aware of how often we paint mental pictures with our figures of speech? It happens just as regularly as the moon chases the sun. You just can’t seem to escape from them.

1. Read and consider these two articles Metaphors We Live By and In Defense of Metaphors in Science. If you are having trouble viewing the second document, click on this link to a word document, In Defense of Metaphors in Science. Then develop a comment and post on this web site.

2. Argue both for and against using metaphors in our language. What are the strengths and the weaknesses of such expressions? What knowledge questions emerge from this discussion?

Bonus: Give an example of a metaphor in science.  Then think of a new metaphor for the concept. How does changing the metaphor change how with think? Example: “The Big Bang” could instead be “The Big Squeeze”

What does science hope to achieve?

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Welcome IB juniors! If you are a senior receiving this email, consider yourself lucky that I haven’t deleted your subscription! All of you, welcome! Let’s consider these questions as we study the natural sciences:

1. What does science hope to achieve?

2. How do we distinguish science from other academic disciplines?

3. Which of the ‘ways of knowing’–emotion, language, reason, sense perception, imagination, faith, memory, intuition– seem best suited to science? Argue for at least three of the ways of knowing and give reasons and examples.

4. Base your answers to these questions on your observations, experiences, and readings–including “How To Think Like A Scientist,” “How Science Works,” and “The Nature of Science,” which can be found on the side bar of this website under the topic heading, “Natural Science.”

5. Return to this website on Friday and comment (discuss) on at least three of your classmates posts.

May 2014 ToK Prescribed Titles

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Dear Diploma Candidates,

The May 2014 ToK titles have been released. I suggest working on your ToK essay soon before you have all of your time consumed.

ToK Prescribed Titles May 2014

Check with Ms. Bell about the due dates. For my part, I can read and comment on one draft of your paper, so I suggest you workshop this paper prior to sending it to me.  Remember, ‘the map is not the territory!’

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey