In the Theory of Knowledge, the four main tools of knowledge used by human beings are reason, emotion, language and perception. While these tools are generally believed to enable us to pursue and acquire knowledge, are these four ways of knowing the only means of acquiring knowledge? In recent years the IB curriculum has included the other four ways of knowing: intuition, imagination, faith and memory, recognizing them as additional ways of acquiring knowledge. This implies that the knowledge gained from the four methods would be limited, thus extending to other methods of pursuing knowledge. These new knowledge tools are considered mistrustful or invalid ways of knowing in certain areas of knowledge. Abraham Maslow's quote implies that we, human beings, are all influenced by our background and have a tendency to propose solutions to any situation that our background suggests to us. If all-too-familiar methods are not the only tools for acquiring true knowledge, how do other ways of knowing, such as intuition and imagination, play a role in different areas of knowledge? Scientists tend to hold to their common belief that general scientific theories and laws have always been arrived at through rational explanation, thus overlooking the possibilities of intuitive and imaginary developments. It is commonly stated that intuition or emotions suggest irrationality and that scientific truth and results depend only on reason. Intuition can be defined as the ability to understand something instinctively without the need for conscious reasoning while imagination can be defined as the ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. In the areas of natural sciences. ..... half of the article ... in ethics partly determined by emotional response, most students might be tempted to argue that it is actually the area of knowledge that relies most on intuitive thinking. I believe that our moral judgments are based on elaborate socialization processes through which we acquire our moral foundation through the testimonies of the major sources of authority in our lives, such as our parents, teachers, priests, etc. This socialization, when combined with our emotional sensitivity, allows us to be particularly attuned to detail, an acuity that we often confuse with our intuition. Therefore, although these other ways of knowing such as intuition, imagination and others, certainly cannot be certified as a justified way of knowing, it still plays an important role in enhancing the pursuit of knowledge in different fields of knowledge, even if at various levels.
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