The multiplicity of historical perspectives may aid in understanding the underlying causes as to why a certain event took place in the past. Hence, the extent to the consideration of different perspectives in history is beneficial relies on the purpose for which that consideration is taking place. To ascertain the reasons and causes of a conflict in the past, it is necessary to identify the differing perspectives as to why that specific conflict took place and in doing so sidelining the narrative associated only with the majority. Once perspectives are acknowledged, an objective interpretation of a conflict’s causes may be acquired – I use ‘objective’ cautiously here as this is rarely the case. In another sense, the existence of varying historical perspectives is beneficial to the process of producing knowledge. This understanding is based on the notion that taking various perspectives into consideration is an integral aspect of the historical method in terms of the evidence and accounts that are provided. On the other hand, numerous perspectives on a single topic may be detrimental to historical knowledge, especially when there is no basis upon which the knowledge produced by these perspectives can be judged against. The quality of historical knowledge is proportionate to the degree of certainty that it produces regarding a certain historical topic. A multiplicity of perspectives may blur the truth and render all other narratives equally worthy of consideration, especially, as previously stated when there is no solid foundation upon which to judge that knowledge, raising the importance of the availability of evidence – preferably physical in this context.  

An AoK to which this could be transferred:

 In the context of human sciences, a multiplicity of perspectives could aid in better understanding and interpreting a political event. The logic behind the existence of a multiplicity of perspective and the extent to which it is beneficial to the knowledge of human sciences does follow that of history in my opinion. 

• What is it about mathematics that enables mathematical results to remain

unchanged over time?

• How significant have notable individuals been in shaping the nature and

development of mathematics as an area of knowledge?

• What is the role of the mathematical community in determining the validity of a

mathematical proof?

• Is mathematical knowledge embedded in particular cultures or traditions?

• Does personal experience play any role in the formation of claims in

mathematics?

• Is progress harder to make in mathematics than in other areas of knowledge?

• If mathematics is created by humans, is it still possible to accept mathematical

truths as objective facts about the world?

• Are all of the areas of knowledge in the TOK course themselves embedded in a

particular tradition or bound to a particular culture?

 

Applied mathematics is the application of mathematical methods by different fields such as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, computer science, and industry. Thus, applied mathematics is a combination of mathematical science and specialized knowledge. The term "applied mathematics" also describes the professional specialty in which mathematicians work on practical problems by formulating and studying mathematical models. The key word here is practical. If a culture places high value on a specific type of knowledge, for example… engineering, the bank of this field’s knowledge will increase and the specific area will prosper. Thus it could be said that some mathematical knowledge could be seen as imbedded in particular cultures. 

The only things that are certain in life are death and taxes.  A comment often made usually during a discussion about the uncertainties of one’s personal life, or career, or the broader meaning of ‘life’.  Certainly, death is a certainty, as the singer/poet Jim Morrison (and others) was said to have remarked, “No one gets out of here alive”.  And taxes?  From ancient times until our own contemporary age, the counting up of what one owes – to the government, to the king, to the leader, whomever is in control of such things – and whether in euros or dollars, pieces of eight, doubloons or shekels – an accounting is made, and what is owed is expected to be paid.  It makes no difference what we call them, the immutability of numbers, the very concrete concept embodied in one/uno/eins/egy or any of hundreds of languages spoken on the planet, one is one as surely as two is two, et cetera. Though mathematics can be considered a ‘language’ with a vocabulary and meanings and rules of usage, at it’s core the world of numbers remains unchanged over time.  It has always been so, from the earliest barter economic systems onward.  I will give you one of these for one of those, or two of those depending on the value assigned to these and those.

The usefulness of mathematics lies in its quality of immutability, that mathematical theorems and formulas are unchanging constants, that regardless of the spoken or written language used, numbers remain.

The only things that are certain in life are death and taxes.  A comment often made usually during a discussion about the uncertainties of one’s personal life, or career, or the broader meaning of ‘life’.  Certainly, death is a certainty, as the singer/poet Jim Morrison (and others) was said to have remarked, “No one gets out of here alive”.  And taxes?  From ancient times until our own contemporary age, the counting up of what one owes – to the government, to the king, to the leader, whomever is in control of such things – and whether in euros or dollars, pieces of eight, doubloons or shekels – an accounting is made, and what is owed is expected to be paid.  It makes no difference what we call them, the immutability of numbers, the very concrete concept embodied in one/uno/eins/egy or any of hundreds of languages spoken on the planet, one is one as surely as two is two, et cetera. Though mathematics can be considered a ‘language’ with a vocabulary and meanings and rules of usage, at it’s core the world of numbers remains unchanged over time.  It has always been so, from the earliest barter economic systems onward.  I will give you one of these for one of those, or two of those depending on the value assigned to these and those.

The usefulness of mathematics lies in its quality of immutability, that mathematical theorems and formulas are unchanging constants, that regardless of the spoken or written language used, numbers remain.