IA188-3-FY-CO:
Theory of Knowledge

The details
2025/26
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Foundation/Year Zero: Level 3
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 26 June 2026
30
14 March 2025

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA T710 American Studies (United States) (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA V31B Art History (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA V350 Art History (Including Foundation Year),
BA V531 Continental Philosophy (Including Foundation Year),
BA W808 Creative Writing (Including Foundation Year),
BA W408 Drama (Including Foundation Year),
BA WQ28 Drama and Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q320 English Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA R9R9 European Studies with Spanish (Including Foundation Year),
BA PW88 Film and Creative Writing (Including Foundation Year),
BA W628 Film Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA PQ38 Film Studies and Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA V102 History (Including Foundation Year),
BA MV98 History and Criminology (Including Foundation Year),
BA QV2C History and Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA LV38 History and Sociology (Including Foundation Year),
BA V1W8 History with Film Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA V1L8 History with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA T7N3 Latin American Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA T7N4 Latin American studies with Business Management (Including Foundation Year),
BA T7M8 Latin American studies with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA LQV0 Liberal Arts (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q900 Liberal Arts (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA V144 Modern History (Including Foundation Year),
BA VL18 Modern History and International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA LV28 Modern History and Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA V502 Philosophy (Including Foundation Year),
BA V508 Philosophy (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA MVC8 Philosophy and Law (Including Foundation Year),
BA VM58 Philosophy and Law (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA VQ52 Philosophy and Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA VQ58 Philosophy and Literature (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA LV2H Philosophy and Politics (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA LV8M Philosophy and Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA V5M8 Philosophy with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA VLM8 Philosophy with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA VV58 Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (Including Foundation Year),
BA VV59 Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA V359 Curating (Including Foundation Year),
BA V35B Curating (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA QW38 Literature and Creative Writing (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q218 English and Comparative Literature (Including Foundation Year),
BA W353 Art History, Visual Culture and Media Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA P403 Film and Drama (Including Foundation Year),
BA VV21 Philosophy with Business Management (Including Foundation Year),
BA R101 Art History and Language Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA R103 Art History with Language Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA R109 European Studies and Language Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA V306 Curating with Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA V310 Curating with History (Including Foundation Year),
BA VV41 Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA V302 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA V201 History and Heritage (Including Foundation Year),
BA VM11 History and Law (Including Foundation Year),
BA WW81 Drama and Creative Writing (Including Foundation Year),
BA P566 Film and Journalism (Including Foundation Year),
BA V5L6 Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

The Theory of Knowledge module delves into fundamental inquiries about how we acquire knowledge and the processes involved in understanding. It challenges students to explore the connections and comparisons between different areas of knowledge, urging them to develop a heightened awareness of their own perspectives and those of others.


By engaging with the theory of knowledge, University students are encouraged to critically assess the foundations of knowledge and to appreciate the diverse viewpoints that shape our understanding of the world. This academic pursuit prompts students to reflect on the nature of knowledge itself, fostering a deeper appreciation of the complexities inherent in human cognition and interpretation within the context of higher education.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To stimulate students to contemplate the fundamental question, "How do we ascertain knowledge?", and to acknowledge the significance of posing such inquiries.

  • To expose students to situations characterised by ambiguity, uncertainty, and inquiries that yield multiple plausible responses.

  • To empower students with the skills necessary to effectively navigate and comprehend the complexities of the world, thereby preparing them to confront unfamiliar and intricate scenarios.

  • To foster students' self-awareness by prompting them to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions.

  • To engage students with diverse viewpoints, fostering a spirit of open-mindedness and cultivating their ability to understand and appreciate different cultures.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate theory of knowledge reasoning by critically scrutinising knowledge inquiries.

  2. Identify and explore relations between knowledge inquiries and the surrounding environment.

  3. Identify and explore connections between knowledge inquiries and various domains of knowledge.

  4. Formulate pertinent, lucid, and consistent arguments.

  5. Employ examples and evidence adeptly to substantiate discussions.

  6. Demonstrate awareness of and appraising diverse perspectives.


Skills for your professional life (Transferable Skills)

By the end of this module, a student will have practised the following transferable skills:



  1. Intellectual skills (e.g. critical, analytical, synthesising and problem-solving skills) developed in lectures, classes discussion groups and seminars.

  2. Communication skills (written and oral). Writing skills are practised in the essay and poster presentation; oral skills are developed through participation in discussions and debates.

  3. Organisational skills (e.g. working independently, taking initiative, time-management.) Students are encouraged to work independently and to explore problems on their own initiative.  The lecturer fosters these skills by providing bibliographies and referring to articles or books which students may then go and read.

  4. Inter-personal skills (e.g. ability to work with or motivate others, flexibility/adaptability). The ability to work with other people is fostered in discussion groups, classes and seminars.

  5. Research Skills. Students are encouraged to learn some research skills through selecting and evaluating relevant sources, using the University Library and desk research.

Module information

Syllabus


Autumn Term


Core theme: Knowledge and the Knower



  • Week 1: Foundations of Knowledge

  • Week 2: Sources of Understanding

  • Week 3: Perspectives on Truth

  • Week 4: Fundamental Concepts

  • Week 5: Interpretation of Perception: Insights from the Allegory of the Cave to understand perception and reality.

  • Week 6: Evaluation of Beliefs

  • Week 7: Critique of Explanations

  • Week 8: Influence on Cognition

  • Week 9: Diversity of Perspectives

  • Week 10: Synthesis and Reflection


Spring Term



  • Week 16 Understanding Knowledge and Innovation

  • Week 17 Subtheme: Exploring the relationship between knowledge and technological advancements

  • Week 18 Knowledge and Language

  • Week 19 Subtheme: Language games: Examining the role of language in shaping and conveying knowledge

  • Week 20 Knowledge and politics

  • Week 21 Subtheme: Discussing the intersection of knowledge and political systems

  • Week 22 Cultural Perspectives on Knowledge

  • Week 23 Subtheme: Knowledge and indigenous societies

  • Week 24 Knowledge and Art:

  • Week 25 Subtheme: Art and Truth


Summer term



  • Week 30 Knowledge and History

  • Week 31 Knowledge and Globalisation

  • Synthesis and reflection

Learning and teaching methods

Teaching and learning on Essex Pathways modules offer students the ability to develop the foundation knowledge, skills, and competences to study at undergraduate level, through a curriculum that is purposely designed to provide an exceptional learning experience. All teaching, learning and assessment materials will be available via Moodle in a consistent and user-friendly manner.

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour lecture per week
  • One 2-hour seminar per week

Students are expected to undertake the reading before classes and be prepared to engage in the practical seminars.

Bibliography*

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Group fishbowl discussions (20-30 minutes, 30%)    30% 
Coursework   Poster presentation (1,000 words, 30%)    30% 
Coursework   Essay (1,500 words, 40%)    40% 

Additional coursework information

Formative assessment Creating a concept map or mind map showing links between an area of knowledge and the core theme in week 11. A “fishbowl” discussion on the impact of the internet on what we know and how we know in week 20 as preparation for the 3rd assessment. Summative assessment Poster presentation (1,000 words, 30%) The assignment will investigate basic knowledge ideas covered in the Autumn Term. It will aim to find out how well students have grasped the main ideas and thinking and how these could be applied to their thinking about knowledge. The poster presentation will feed forward to the second assignment in the Spring Term.   Essay (1,500 words, 40%) The aim is to submit an essay on a topic from the syllabus which will test the students’ ability to research a topic, collect sources, synthesise and critically evaluate them. It will aim to find out how well students have grasped the main ideas and thinking in epistemology and ethics and how these could be applied to current problems. Group fishbowl discussions (20-30 minutes, 30%) The aim is to discuss and evaluate issues related to knowledge. The assessment exposes students to important transferable skills such as teamwork, synthesizing data, the importance of finding and using evidence and general debating skills. Reassessment strategy Failed Coursework -  resubmit a piece of coursework (1,500 words) which will be marked as 100% of the new module mark. If the group discussion has been failed or has not been attempted, students will also be required to submit a 500-word presentation in notes/slides format. The weighting will be divided 70% (assignment) and 30% (presentation) between the assignment and the presentation. The reassessment task will enable the relevant learning outcomes to be met.

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Kalina Stamenova, email: knstam@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Kalina Stamenova
Becky Humphreys - becky.humphreys@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Ms Linda Hurley
University of Southampton
Senior Teaching Fellow
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Essex Pathways

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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