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Lesson 2 Radical Empathy - IBDP Theory of Knowledge

This document discusses the concept of "radical empathy" and its role in producing knowledge in the human sciences. It poses questions about whether the purpose of fields like anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences. Students are asked to consider the problem of producing knowledge for a moral purpose and how that relates to the idea of objectivity. The document also examines the difficulty of understanding human behavior and whether the human sciences can or should be value-free.

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Asmi Suresh
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54 views7 pages

Lesson 2 Radical Empathy - IBDP Theory of Knowledge

This document discusses the concept of "radical empathy" and its role in producing knowledge in the human sciences. It poses questions about whether the purpose of fields like anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences. Students are asked to consider the problem of producing knowledge for a moral purpose and how that relates to the idea of objectivity. The document also examines the difficulty of understanding human behavior and whether the human sciences can or should be value-free.

Uploaded by

Asmi Suresh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RADICAL

EMPATHY
What role can ‘radical empathy’ play in producing knowledge in the
human sciences?
Starter “The purpose of anthropology is to make the
world safe for human differences.”
Ruth Benedict

● What do you think Benedict meant?


● Can we extend this purpose to ALL human
sciences?
● What might be the problem of producing
knowledge for a (moral) purpose? Think
about the term objectivity when you offer
your answer.
Understanding human
behaviour
The purpose of the human sciences is to
interpret and explain the way humans
behave on an individual and societal level.

Why is this a difficult task? With a partner,


list as many reasons as you can think of
why humans are such a tricky subject
matter.
Understanding human behaviour:
‘radical empathy’

Your homework task was to highlight or In groups of 3 or 4, Share the sentences


note down two or three sentences from
you chose and explain why you chose
the article that strike you as important
them.
or interesting.
Understanding human behaviour:
‘radical empathy’
Now, In your group, make notes so you can share ideas
with the class about your thoughts on the answers to these
questions:
● What does ‘radical empathy’ mean, and how
important is this in Gwen Adshead’s work?
● What does her work reveal about the importance of
having an ethical agenda in the human sciences?
● What does her work suggest about the idea of
‘objectivity’ in producing knowledge in the human
sciences?
Can the human
sciences be value free?

Should they be?


Links to the Related exhibition prompt In what ways do
values affect the production of knowledge? (IAP-
TOK exhibition 35)

● Refer to the ideas from this lesson to answer


this question.
● For example, think about whether we can
maintain objectivity about the human
sciences when we are morally involved in
what we are exploring or researching.
● Which objects could help to illustrate your
answer?

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