Essay On Shared Knowledge

1283 Words3 Pages

Amanda E. Stevenson IB #000923-0036 Prescribed Title Essay Word Count: 1211 With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape personal knowledge. Shaping knowledge is similar to reevaluating what a person may consider to be true. While this is neither a positive or negative thing, it impacts the progression of the world, in terms of societal cues, which is constantly reliant on continued shared knowledge among individuals. Shared knowledge shapes personal knowledge, and this is done by strengthening personal knowledge or by bringing its validity into question. This is dependent on the individual accepting knowledge. Some people may not have experienced a certain type of situation, so they would …show more content…

For example, scientists routinely use the Scientific Method, which was developed thousands of years ago, as a result of personal experiments which were shared. Technically, the Scientific Method is simply a constructive method of trial and error. Through variations within this method, new discoveries have been made which have ultimately shaped the personal knowledge of each individual scientist, as well as the general public. Furthermore, as these personal experiences have been shared throughout time with other individuals and the public, they have been transformed into shared knowledge. The treatment of asthma throughout the world and time is an example of how shared knowledge shapes personal knowledge (Crosta). Asthma’s unbiased nature has resulted in the disease affecting people of all ages and different backgrounds, which has resulted in several different treatment methods from around the world. In texts created as early as 460 BC, asthma was used as a medical term concerning the breathing of an individual. Initially, the goal of methods used throughout the world was to ultimately cure the disease. For example, in ancient Greece, owl blood was consumed as a treatment for asthma (Crosta). Ancient Egyptians were known to utilize camel and crocodile droppings as asthma treatment. One of the most ironic treatments was the use of smoke inhalation …show more content…

Discoveries have been made by individuals using the successes and failures of other individuals to shape their own knowledge and improve treatment methods. The differences among individuals with different religious backgrounds can also shape personal knowledge. Conflicts which lean toward a certain faith can tarnish that faith if people are not willing to fully comprehend the situation as well as the actual belief system. In order for shared knowledge to have any impact on personal knowledge, there must first be shared knowledge. People must be willing to share the personal knowledge which they have gained only from their personal experience. Once that knowledge is shared, people must then be willing to accept it, so consequently it can then shape their personal knowledge, which then will help the world continue to progress and

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