Key Concepts – Objectivity and Truth
KQ
- How can we know whether we have sufficient knowledge before voting in an election?
- In what ways is factual evidence sometimes used, abused, dismissed and
ignored in politics? - Is being knowledgeable an important quality in a political leader?
- How is the practice of politics distinct from the discipline of political science?
- What issues does politics raise about the difference between knowledge and
opinion? - How might political controversies be triggered by developments is
scientific knowledge? - Why have political leaders sometimes tried to control or eradicate specific
bodies of knowledge? - With regards to politics, do we know as much as we think we know?
Ways of Knowledge are used to persuade you to vote. Which do you think are the more effective? Consider who the target audience is. Are the same WoK used for young females compared to middle-aged men? Are minorities in a country targeted in the same way as the majority?
Fear (especially 5&6) can be used to persuade voters to vote for or against another political party. This emotion can override reason, perhaps more so if the issues which you are fearful of could affect loved ones.