TOK Exhibition - Commentary
Prompt: How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past
knowledge?
Theme: Knowledge and the Knower
Knowledge is the evolution of ideas and facts through different generations and eras. As time passes,
information is susceptible to change and commutes into newer versions of the discoveries of the past.
With the growth of technology and the presence of more creative and intellectual minds, people use the
knowledge founded by the initial inhabitants of the world and improve them for easier-equipped lifestyles.
Our ancestors gave the foundation while we have placed a ladder on it and go on improving it as time
evolves. Knowledge of the past is built upon through technology, ideas and newer opportunities and will
continue to be done so to facilitate current societal needs.
1) The first car was invented and patented in Mannheim, Germany by Karl Benz
Fig 1 : First Benz Car from the Museum (Daderot)
This was the first car invented in Mannheim in 1892 by Karl Benz. Nowadays for cars, we use petrol and
diesel as their energy booster. However, then he used a combustible liquid called, Ligroin. Where petrol
can last for 125km, ligroin had to be refilled every 30 mins and the ride would take many days. Here we
can see how the initial idea of ligroin has been developed into using petrol/diesel to improve the invention
from the past to make it more compatible with the present.
The idea founded nearly 2 centuries ago is still on run but with improved evolutions of the initial model.
Hence the current knowledge we have of the 4-wheeled car has been improved from Karl’s initial 3-
wheel model. Introduced 2 centuries ago and has been improved to the knowledge we have today.
Benz founded an Electrical car which drives on electricity and needs no human assistance. It has been
made robotic with the interference of AI and drives 6 times faster than normal cars. I relate to this car as I
live in Mannheim and the mastermind comes from the same city. Through this, I can see how the physics
and ideology of Benz; 2 centuries ago, have been improved to suit the needs of society. One day, even
these cars which run on AI shall become history and the foundation laid by Karl Benz will go on
improving into newer models with facilities we can’t even imagine today, as generations come. (Group)
2) A Madhubani Painting of a Wedding and A picture I took at my Uncle’s Wedding on the phone
Pictures are memories for a lifetime. May it be a painting or a single shot from the latest mobile phone. In
the past, the kings wanted to save their victories, experiences and their lifestyles in the form of paintings
for generations to come.
The Madhubani painting dates back to the 7th century BCE. He wanted to record the event for the future
generations. Painters came up with colours from natural dyes such as squashing berries, flowers and
leaves. They used Coal, turmeric, rice powder, red sand and calcium and mixed them in various
proportions to achieve their desired colours. But achieving the exact hues of a few colours wouldn’t have
been possible.
But in the current time, things have changed a great deal through amalgamation. Very recently, I
recorded the wedding of my uncle on my mobile. The colours were vivid and sharp and as exactly as it is
within a fraction of a second bringing out every detail of the picture. I also photoshopped the pictures and
shared them with my friends and family. Now, this tiny little lens can capture my current knowledge which
is an improvement of the past knowledge.
3) My Mask from the outbreak of Corona Virus
Covid 19 marks the outbreak of the CoronaVirus. One can’t say it is over and extinct but has
subsequently reduced as of now. I am personally connected to it because it has become my travel
companion over the past 3 years and I have had first-hand experience with the pros and cons of Covid
for 3 years. It has had a big impact on my life, academics and technology. Both I and my dad had Covid
but no serious impact. However, had I been alive 7 centuries ago, I don’t even know if I would have
survived if I got the virus then. Scientists and doctors found out that the virus would affect us if it went in
through the oxygen we breathed or if it went through our mouths. So the masks were made with 3 filtered
layers that protect us from getting infected. Now we also have social media that helps us spread
awareness and stay well informed because of the media. Had this been life a few centuries ago, people
would be in perplexion. An example would be the Black Death where doctors would wear masks that
looked like a Tycoon bird. Their masks were huge and not easy to carry around. Those masks were only
available to doctors and high hierarchies in society. This earth has seen improved knowledge with
awareness, reasons, correct safety measures and even a vaccination in a short span. Lack of concrete
knowledge, panic and chaos, and very little or rather no opportunity to be well-informed all contributed to
a high toll of death. Today, thanks to technology and inventions, we experience a better lifestyle. The
habit of wearing masks was from the ancient times when viruses were a common issue, however, they
were not easily available but thanks to science, 3-layered FFP2 masks are available to all citizens across
the world. The foundation laid in the past such as quarantine/isolation and masks has been improved in
today’s society providing a safer lifestyle.
Works Cited
1. Group, Mercedes-Benz. “Benz Patent Motor Car: The First Automobile (1885–1886).” Mercedes-Benz Group,
2022, group.mercedes-benz.com/company/tradition/company-history/1885-1886.html.
2. Daderot. “Exhibit in the in the Luray Caverns Car and Carriage Museum, Lurary, Virginia, USA.,”
Wikimedia Commons, 16 Sept. 2016,
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benz_automobile,_1892,_made_by_Karl_Benz,_Mannheim,_Germany,_5_HP,
_1_cylinder,_water-cooled,_gasoline_engine_-_Luray_Caverns_Car_and_Carriage_Museum_-_Luray,_Virginia_-
_DSC01173.jpg.
