IB TOK Essay Titles - November 2025

(3) Should knowledge in an area of knowledge be pursued for its own sake rather than for its potential application? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge. 

• Explore how pure mathematics often values knowledge for its own sake, driven by curiosity and the pursuit of intellectual beauty, even if practical applications are not immediately evident. 
• Discuss how, in the human sciences, knowledge is often pursued with application in mind – for example, to improve societal structures or policies – but that pure research also plays a vital role. 
• Reflect on how the intrinsic pursuit of knowledge can eventually lead to unexpected applications, suggesting that valuing knowledge for its own sake doesn't preclude future usefulness. 
• Consider the ethical dimension: is there a duty to prioritize applications that address urgent social or practical needs?

(4) To what extent do you agree that however the methods of an area of knowledge change, the scope remains the same? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.

• Discuss, for instance, how in history, although methods (e.g., digital humanities, archaeological advances) have changed, the scope – understanding past human experiences – has largely stayed consistent. 
• Explore how in the natural sciences, while technological methods like quantum computing or CRISPR gene editing revolutionize approaches, the broader scope of explaining and predicting natural phenomena remains. 
• Reflect on cases where new methods have expanded the scope by allowing inquiry into previously inaccessible areas (e.g., climate modeling in history, microbiology in science). 
• Argue that while the fundamental aims of areas of knowledge often endure, methodological innovation can subtly shift or broaden their scope.

(5) In the pursuit of knowledge, is it possible or even desirable to set aside temporarily what we already know? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

• Explore how in the natural sciences, setting aside existing theories can lead to paradigm shifts, such as when Einstein questioned Newtonian mechanics to develop relativity. 
• Discuss how in the arts, artists might deliberately unlearn conventions or traditional techniques to explore new forms of creative expression. 
• Consider that temporarily suspending prior knowledge can prevent cognitive bias and open pathways for innovation, but also carries risks if it leads to disregarding valuable insights. 
• Reflect on the balance between respecting accumulated knowledge and fostering critical, transformative thinking in both disciplines.

(6) Is empathy an attribute that is equally important for a historian and a human scientist? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.

• Discuss how in history, empathy is not essential; the historian’s priority is to establish facts, regardless of how uncomfortable they are. Excessive empathy can distort historical analysis by introducing modern emotional biases (presentism). 
• However, a limited, intellectual form of empathy – understanding the context and mindset of past societies – can help historians avoid unfair judgments and build more accurate interpretations without emotional distortion. 
• Explore how in the human sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology), empathy is crucial because researchers work with living individuals whose emotions, experiences, and perspectives are essential parts of the knowledge being studied.

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