Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE ESSAY

Topic: Ethical judgements limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in
both the arts and the natural sciences. Discuss.

Name: Pranay Jaipuria

Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028
Word Count: 1592
Submitted to: Manisha Razdan

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Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

Ethical judgements limit the methods available in the production of knowledge in both
the arts and the natural sciences. Discuss.
But I try not to think with my gut. If I'm serious about understanding the world, thinking
with anything besides my brain, as tempting as that might be, is likely to get me into
trouble. ~ Carl Sagan.1 The difference in the gut and brain mentioned by Sagan is essentially
the difference between an emotionally undertaken quest of knowledge, and a rational,
utilitarian approach. The trouble that Sagan seeks to avoid is the criticism and ethical
impositions levied by the society. Ethical judgements rule our lives: these are constantly
pronounced and received by all of us and impact our decisions greatly. The proposition of the
title is about how the judgements of a group of emotionally enraged people can curtail the
endeavours of an enlightened mind. I think it is unjust that an excellent painter can be judged
ethically by people who do not understand the art at all. Likewise for a layman to impose
moral questions on the methods of a scientist appears to be unfair. Should the quest of
knowledge be impeded ethical judgements? And can all ethical judgement be considered
justifiable? These are some of the issues that I aim to discuss in the essay.
Production of knowledge is a continuous process and needs to be updated and revisited
periodically. For this process of renewal the knower needs to employ creativity and use all
possible methods; some of these methods may not be deemed appropriate by the masses.
Then perhaps, the knower must use his prudence to filter the knowledge so that it adheres to
the utilitarian and ethical parameters because it has been proven time and again that in order
to be universally acceptable knowledge needs to be tempered with ethical responsibility. But
is it practical or even sensible to limit methods of exploring and discovering knowledge even
if crossing barriers set by society might yield knowledge that would actually benefit the
society? Is it not ironical that we shudder at the thought of medicines being tested on guinea

1 http://sguforums.com/index.php?topic=12089.10;wap2
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Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

pigs and yet crave the cure they promise? But most importantly are ethical judgements
universal? Do the same ethical judgements apply to all cultures, in all milieus? If not, then
who is to pass judgement on whom? These are some of the knowledge issues that dog the
issue at hand. But these doubts notwithstanding, there is no uncertainty in my mind that many
a great thinker, scientist and artist have felt the iron fist of ethical impediments.
An article that I read as part of my ToK research seemed to indicate that knowledge
production in art has always been under question. Do artists produce knowledge? Current
debates on the validity and significance of artistic research show that the question is as
pressing today as it was in the early modern period. 2 Despite the misgivings of Sven Dupr
I think tangible knowledge is continuously produced in arts and this knowledge is not limited
to arts alone: an artist captures the world and presents us with a slice of reality. In fact, artistic
knowledge impacts other areas of knowledge as well and is hence significant for me as a
knower. Graphics and visuals are also a form of arts and they help me to understand each and
every subject that I study as part of my IB curriculum. However there is no rebutting the fact
that art is an area ruled mostly by emotions and expressions; production of knowledge in arts
is more creative than rational. Therefore the clamping of control damages the artist and his
pursuit of knowledge more. The ban on Picasso during the World War II 3 because Nazi
regime did not approve of neutral stance depicted in his paintings was not only deliberate
snuffing of his artistic expression but also precluded the public from obtaining another
perspective about the war. This I can still understand as the Nazis did not want public to learn
gory truths about war but what I fail to comprehend is the reaction of parents who debar
children from reading books that offer vicarious experiences of the harsh truths of the world.
Out of the countless banned geniuses is one author, the Nobel Laureate, Toni Morrison. Her
books Beloved and Bluest Eye were banned because parents do not want their children to
2 http://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/en/news/features/feature22
3 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-pablo-picasso.html
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Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

imbibe the knowledge that Morrison is purveying through these books. According to
columnist Alexandra Cardinale To deny them [students] intellectual and challenging
literature because the traditional community is too uncomfortable with taboo subjects like
pedophilia and incest only deprives that student of understanding the deeper emotional and
psychological complexities behind the taboo.4 The ethical judgements of the parents and the
state are denying a young generation the right to learn about their own historical contexts.
What are the parents trying to shield the children from? Is it not better to let them read about
it first rather than face it head on later in life. My mother, too, is severely critical of the reality
crime shows aired on television but my sisters vouch that the shows have actually forewarned
and forearmed them about the risks that they may face. It is clear to me as a knower that these
parents are exercising emotions rather than reason while using ethics as a weapon to curtail
the production of knowledge. While I respect their concern I also staunchly advocate the right
of the artist to produce knowledge and that of the readers to assimilate it.
The concept of neoliberal governmentality given by Foucault perhaps applies to the pursuit
of knowledge by the artist as well as the scientist. The knower should be allowed to pursue
and produce knowledge while being morally responsible to the exclusion of all other
ethical values and social interests.5 So as per Foucault, rational choice should guide
production of knowledge instead of the emotionally charged ethical judgements. But does
that happen? Is the scientist above ethics? Can one individuals ventures ever be more
important than a groups benefits? It is no exaggeration to say that scientific knowledge has
been produced and implemented rapidly in the last few decades: from astounding gadgets to
wonder drugs natural sciences have discovered and invented everything that has made human
lives are safer, longer and happier. All this is accepted happily but when these scientists try to
4 http://www.policymic.com/articles/60609/bluest-eye-banned-why-parents-wanttoni-morrison-s-book-out-of-schools
5 http://cjas.dk/index.php/foucault-studies/article/viewArticle/2471
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Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

create lives in Petri dishes and test tubes, the moral police swings into action. When preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)6 is used for detecting diseases that might later assail the
embryo, it is hailed as a revolutionary genetic technology but when it is used for Human
leukocyte antigen matching or gender selection then ethical issues are posed. If we ban or
obstruct the scientific study today, we might negatively impact the present as well as future
uses of this amazing technology. Gender selection may be ill-conceived in a nation like India
where the girl child is unwanted and the male-female ratio is degenerating but Australian
states have also banned sex selection and abortion as ethically controversial issues 7 despite a
balanced male to female ratio. Those that oppose the ban question what is incorrect about
wanting a girl when you already have sons or vice versa. The ethical answer is that right to
life should not depend upon gender. I accept this as long as this does not hamper the quest of
the knower in the field of natural sciences. If humans put knowledge to a negative use should
that be an indicator that knowledge should not be produced? The genetic and cloning
experimentation should not be limited because someone somewhere might use it unethically.
The surgeons scalpel is used for healing but it may be used to inflict a mortal wound; does
that mean that the scalpel should not be used at all? Knowledge in itself can never be
noxious or harmful and should be allowed to increase. It is up to the knower to filter and sift
knowledge and use it prudently
The statement in the title hints at radical moralism that determines efficacy of knowledge
based on its moral value; this is an extreme view. Just as extreme is the view of radical
autonomism which proclaims that knowledge, especially aesthetic knowledge is beyond the
boundary of any other value. There has to be a middle path; a moderate approach that is
followed by those involved in the production of knowledge and those who are sitting in
judgement. Knowledge in arts and natural sciences is vital and should not be limited due to
6 http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/3/465.long
7 http://www.loc.gov/law/help/sex-selection/australia.php
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Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

ethical censorship; however, who is this knowledge for? It is essentially for the public. Art is
worthless without the spectator or reader; technology is redundant if no one uses it.
Therefore, mankind emerges as the one with paramount importance. If the ethical judgements
are safeguarding the larger interest of mankind, then these should be given a second thought.
To answer the question in the title, yes ethical judgements do limit the production of
knowledge in both the arts and the natural sciences. But these judgements cannot be
discarded peremptorily and hastily because those that pass it are sitting in authority for a
reason; they have to maintain the law, order, and equilibrium in the society. The judgements
are not whimsical but based on experience of the past and caution about the future. If parents
wish the young minds to be shielded from explicit content in Morrisons novels or if
Australian government bans gender determination, these decisions should be evaluated,
assessed and then applied moderately. But throughout the process the quest for knowledge
and the methodology to produce this knowledge should be maintained with discretion.
Word Count: 1592

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Candidate Session Number: 002760-0028

Candidate Name: Pranay Jaipuria

Bibliography:
Print Sources:
1. Alchin, Nicholas. Theory of Knowledge. Hodder Education; 2nd edition (January 27,
2006)
2. Bastian, Sue. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE-PEARSON BACCAULARETE FOR IB
DIPLOMA PROGRAMS (Pearson International Baccalaureate Diploma: US
Editions. PRENTICE HALL (December 1, 2008)
Web Sources:
1. "Art and Knowledge in Pre-Modern Europe." Art and Knowledge in Pre-Modern
Europe.

N.p.,

n.d.

Web.

27

Dec.

2013.

<http://www.mpiwg-

berlin.mpg.de/en/news/features/feature22>.
2. "Bluest Eye Banned: Why Parents Want Toni Morrison's Book Out Of
Schools." PolicyMic.

N.p.,

n.d.

Web.

29

Dec.

2013.

<http://www.policymic.com/articles/60609/bluest-eye-banned-why-parents-want-tonimorrison-s-book-out-of-schools>.
3. "Carl Sagan Books." Carl Sagan Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2013.
<http://sguforums.com/index.php?topic=12089.10;wap2>.
4. "Foucault Studies." Neoliberalism, Governmentality, and Ethics. N.p., n.d. Web. 30
Dec. 2013. <http://cjas.dk/index.php/foucault-studies/article/viewArticle/2471>.
5. "Human Reproduction." Extending Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: The Ethical
Debate.

N.p.,

n.d.

Web.

30

Dec.

2013.

<http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/3/465.long>.
6. Oak, Manali. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 15 July 2008. Web. 29 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-pablo-picasso.html>.
7. "Sex Selection & Abortion: Australia." Library of Congress Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 02
Dec. 2014. <http://www.loc.gov/law/help/sex-selection/australia.php>.

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