LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS: VOL. III
An Internet WebQuest on the Theory of Knowledge

created by Ralph A. Bucci
Charles W. Flanagan High School

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Conclusion |


Introduction
Acquiring a theory of knowledge concerning some of life's many mysteries becomes essential when having to deal with the complexities of education imposed by today's university system. This WebQuest will introduce you to the subject of critical thinking and will place an emphasis on objectivity more than subjectivity; that is to say, prepare to be challenged on thought rather than feeling. Having an understanding of critical issues will have a profound effect on your schoolwork, your efforts in your career, your contributions to community life, and most importantly: your conduct of personal affairs will all depend on your ability to solve problems and make decisions. As you proceed through this guided lesson, you will acquire the various skills used in addressing problems and issues. You will find yourself identifying and overcoming your personal intellectual weaknesses while becoming better at becoming more observant, clarifying issues, conducting inquiry, evaluating evidence, analyzing other people's views, and making sound judgments.

In the final analysis, you will walk away with foundational thinking on four of today's complex, controversial issues. Reasoning will highlight this activity by providing a structured opportunity for you to develop your thinking processes in a progressive, reflective way. In this way, your interrelationship of ideas will foster your personal development as a mature, responsible critical thinker.

The general attitude toward thinking has changed considerably over the years. The challenges of today demand minds that can move beyond feelings to clear, impartial, critical problem solving and decision making. LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS: VOL. III addresses this concern and allows its participants to engage in a strategy with four contemporary issues to appraise the evidence and distinguish between the reasonable and the unreasonable.

Task
As one ponders life's big questions, what do you believe about the creation of the universe, the essence of a Supreme Being, why all men are not perceived in the same way, and where do we go after our life on earth?

Process
In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about Theory of Knowledge. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background Information
Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.


Phase 2 - Roles
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE:

1. What scientific reasons did Aristotle provide that refuted the flat-universe theory?

2. How long did people subscribe to the flat-earth theory?

3. How did Ptolemy develop his geocentric hypothesis?

4. What difficulties presented problems for Ptolemy to dispel the Greek beliefs that the heavens were perfect?

5. What two refinements had to be made in order to satisfy his accomplishments?

6. In Copernicus' heliocentric configuration, how did he explain the motion of the planets?

7. What problem did Copernicus encounter much like Ptolemy?

8. How is Newton's laws of motion used to help Copernicus' theory to be accepted?

9. How did Kepler's work differ from that of Copernicus even though both believed in the same heliocentric theory?

10. What are Kepler's law's of planetary motion as it applies to the heliocentric theory of the universe?

11. What is the perfect cosmological principle as postulated by the steady-state universe?

12. What philosophical differences were raised by scientists when this was introduced in the late 1940's?

13. What role do quasars play in dispelling the perfect cosmological principle?

14. How too did cosmic background radiation play a role in this theory?

15. What is the big-bang theory?

16. What is 10(-43) second?

17. What took place in the first three minutes of the big bang?

18. What three reasons exist for believing in the big-bang theory?

19. How did Alexander Friedmann combine Einstein's theory of relativity to explain a cosmological constant?

20. What assumptions did Friedmann make concerning the universe?

21. What is the Big Crunch?

22. What is the difference between a closed universe and an open universe?

23. What is the weak version of the anthropic principle?

24. What then is the strong version of the anthropic universe?

25. What merit(s) of this theory is substantial?

26. How does the inflationary theory of the universe contrast the big bang?

27. What findings did Alan Guth use to promote this theory?

28. How does he base his argument on the Grand Unified Theory?

29. How did Hawking and Hartle combine to explain the no-boundary universe?

30. What is one implication of the big-bang theory?

31. How is an oscillating universe like an idea of a universe without end?

32. Now that you have reviewed all eleven universe theories, which one or combinations will you take with you as your final determination concerning the creation of the universe?

THE SUPREME BEING:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to THE SUPREME BEING:

1. In what ways have Aristotle and Plato influenced St. Thomas Aquinas in his philosophy concerning a belief in God?

2. What points does St. Thomas make concerning Divine truth?

3. What responses does St. Thomas make with regards to an existence of a God?

4. What must be remembered about St. Thomas' view of having a rationale for belief in God?

5. How does Judaism explain its existence of G-d?

6. What similarities exist between that of the views of St. Thomas and Judaism in terms of a belief in G-d?

7. What differences exist between the Catholicism's Savior (Jesus) and Judaism's Savior (Mashiach)?

8. What doctrines do each of these major religions follow as a basis of the beliefs?

9. How important is faith to the Buddists?

10. How do the teachings of Buddha concern the absense of self?

11. How do Buddhists explain the concept of a Supreme Being?

12. Why is Enlightenment important?

13. To Islam, what is God (Allah)?

14. How does the Koran explain the Muslim faith?

15. How many members belong to Islam as compared to Catholicism and Judaism?

16. What are each of these three religions names for: God, holy books, and views of life and death?

17. Is it important to understand what God is if you are an atheist or an agnostic? Why or why not?

18. What do atheists and agnostics believe?

THE DIFFERENCE IN MAN:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to THE DIFFERENCE IN MAN:

1. What is it that makes us human?

2. How important does the fossil record become in the understanding of human existence?

3. What important physical traits define us as humans?

4. Present a chronological framework of the evolutionary journeys of our ancestors.

5. How does being an advanced culture help us to understand the evolutionary process?

6. According to Darwin, how did evolution occur?

7. Describe the process of natural selection.

8. What does THE DESCENT OF MAN teach us?

9. What myth is associated with Darwin's 'survival of the fittest?'

10. What is Social Darwinism?

11. Is racism masquerading as science in terms of social Darwinism?

12. In THE DESCENT OF MAN, what evidence is presented that man descended from some pre-existing form?

13. What is the value of the differences between the so-called races of man?

14. If evolution is directional and progressive, what major consequences need to be considered in relationship to humanity?

15. What steps must humanity make in order to continue to be successful in evolutionary terms?

16. What are some of the critical steps that must be formulated in order to preserve a unified, cooperative planetary society?

17. What type of individuals are needed to guide this consciousness of direction of the evolutionary success of humanity?

18. What are the moral consequences of evolution?

19. Is there a design evident in the structure of living organisms?

20. Is there a universal purpose to life?

21. Is evolution progressive or directional?

22. What are Spencer's views concerning race and class?

LIFE AFTER DEATH:

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to LIFE AFTER DEATH:

1. How does life after death correspond with personal problems, unfairness and hardship?

2. What thought is provoked by the quote, 'If there is nothing beyond the grave, the pattern of nature is stunningly incomplete'?

3. Is there clinical evidence for life after death?

4. Why do some people long for something that this world cannot satisfy?

5. Is belief in immortality a timeless phenomenon?

6. How do religious beliefs from around the world respond to an 'eternal homecoming?'

7. What Old Testament predictions provide an explanation for the afterlife?

8. How significant is the issue of facing the reality of life after death?

9. How does modern philosophy explain the future?

10. Create a matrix that highlights the beliefs of Nihilism, Rationalism, Humanism, Agnosticism, Existentialism and other beliefs that are relevent concerning the hereafter.

11. According to Zukeran's article, what will we be like in Heaven?

12. What will we do in Heaven?

13. What is the Egyptian concept of mummification and their ideology concerning an eternal existence?

14. What does the Bible say about cremation?

15. What does the Bible say about burial?

16. Is it wrong for Christians to choose cremation?


Phase 3 - Reaching Consensus
You have all learned about a different part of the Theory of Knowledge. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Conclusion
It's the same for understanding a topic as broad or complex as Theory of Knowledge: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Theory of Knowledge could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.

created by Filamentality Content by Ralph A. Bucci, rbucci@browardschools.com
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/webtheoryora.html
Last revised Tue Dec 23 3:00:58 US/Pacific 2008