Theory of Knowledge

1. Running head: THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 1
Present knowledge is wholly dependent on past knowledge, and Present knowledge is not wholly
dependent on past knowledge
Name
Institution Affiliation

2. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 2
Introduction
In most cases, present knowledge is entirely reliant on past knowledge, but the notion that
present knowledge is not entirely contingent on past knowledge is also accurate. The accuracy of
this statement is found in the capacity of past information to shed light on current knowledge.
Drawing the line between knowledge that may be regarded as past and the knowledge that ought
to be considered past creates the greatest dilemma in this case. In other words, settling on the
point to consider specific knowledge as past or present creates a fairly apparent intricacy in
settling on whether current ideas are entirely subject to past information. The present day’s ideas
and knowledge depend on past knowledge since these ideas are a culmination of past ideas,
which have evolved into what people understand in the present day. For example, Albert Einstein
developed the theory of general relativity by considering ideas from different perspectives
(Discover Magazine, 2005; Ferreira, 2010; Redd, 2017). Einstein used 10 years of working to
incorporate acceleration to the general relativity theory. He ascertained that enormous items
impact distortion in space and time, which people feel as gravity. To consider the statement,
Present knowledge is wholly dependent on past knowledge, but present knowledge is also not
wholly dependent on past knowledge depends on ensuring that there are not knowledge gaps
where past knowledge determines present day’s understanding of the world. In this respect, the
best method to advance toward this statement is to explore the place of past ideas in influencing
current ideas and whether unique information can be developed. The following discussion uses
natural sciences AoK to offer insights in the statement, “Present knowledge is wholly dependent

3. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 3
on past knowledge, and Present knowledge is not wholly dependent on past knowledge”; the
discussion also considers the reason wok in developing claims and counterclaims to this
statement.
Natural Sciences
Through the reason way of knowing, one can affirm that current ideas in the natural
sciences are entirely dependent upon past information. This affirmation is evident in the area of
knowledge, Chemistry, where the field originated from alchemy; alchemy is a field that
considers people’s endeavors to turn metal into gold (Webb, 2015; Chandler, 2019; Khan
Academy, 2019). Without knowledge of alchemy, chemistry may not have developed into a
fully-fledged area of knowledge. Boyle helped in the process of changing alchemy into
chemistry as he developed the experimental method, which was employed in physics (Khan
Academy, 2019). In this regard, Boyle drew parallels these two sciences by revealing that
chemistry was also worthy of attention as the field of physics. This approach of borrowing
knowledge from a different area of inquiry reveals the significance of past information in
shaping current ideas; because the experimental approach had been proven to be desirable in
physics its application in chemistry was considered to be also practical. Accordingly, the
statement, Present knowledge is wholly dependent on past knowledge, is accurate.
A counter to the above idea emerges when one considers chemical reactions. In
Chemistry, scientists cannot observe reactions directly, so these professionals rely on knowledge
that is based on theory (Buskirk & Baradaran, 2009; Siyavula, 2019). The majority of theories
are more of inspirations than direct support of present-day knowledge. Nicholson, for instance,

4. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 4
hypothesized that proto-elements existed in interstellar space (Scerri, 2014). In this regard,
Nicholson affirmed that these elements gave way to the development of familiar terrestrial
chemical elements. Accordingly, he gave these elements such as nebelium and coronium;
through this idea, Nicholson elucidated on numerous unassigned lines of spectra of the solar
coronas well as the main stellar nebulas like the popular Crab nebula in the constellation of
Orion. However, Nicholson’s ideas were wrong; although Nicholson’s ideas appeared to be well-
developed the ideas that they advanced were not well-established. Nonetheless, Nicholson
successfully developed new knowledge without relying on past information, proving that current
ideas do not completely rely on past information.
The above ideas follow the notion that current ideas are entirely reliant on past notions,
but only a few cases reveal information as not being entirely reliant on past ideas. Finding
entirely new information is difficult since such knowledge cannot be placed in context or
supported by evidence. This kind of information is likely to be wrong since it has not been
subjected to experiments or studied conclusively. Nicholson’s ideas offer an elucidation to this
perspective; the scientist‘s proto-elements hypothesis did not bear the desired qualities to be
regarded as scientific information. Therefore, the theory’s premise was rendered incorrect
(Scerri, 2014). However, the knowledge that the scientist developed was new, so current ideas
may not always be subject to past notions. This development reveals that present knowledge may
offer unique insights without calling for the need to consider past information. In this regard, the
only reason that current knowledge may be regarded as wholly contingent on past ideas is when
past knowledge offers the background or verifiability that is important in creating the validity of
specific ideas.

5. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 5
Like in chemistry, knowledge of biodiversity depends on past knowledge to make sense
of present-day developments. Biodiversity conservation, for instance, calls for decades of data
gathered through experiments and observation (Kindsvater et al., 2018). Insufficient data
impedes the diagnosing and conservation efforts of numerous species(Scherz et al., 2019; The
University of Montana, 2019). Nevertheless, contemporary computer fitting approaches are
making the process of bringing together mechanistic models and population data regarding well-
studied indicator species and expanding the inferences about data possible (Kindsvater et al.,
2018). Researchers can, therefore, rely on knowledge about the relatives of different species in
the process of gathering knowledge to fill the void regarding biodiversity. The recent decline of
biodiversity inspires an increase in the rise of conservation biology. Conservationists are
monitoring shifts of natural populations throughout the decades. This type of advance creates a
desirable context that comes in handy to help people to develop knowledge that considers
developments in the past with ease, which is likely to better the accuracy of results. In this
regard, one would be correct to assert that current facts are completely subject to past ideas.
A counter to the above idea surfaces when one considers the moments in history when
people developed new knowledge, which reveals that current facts is not completely reliant on
past information. For instance, before 1675, individuals held that the only living things that were
present on earth were the ones that could be perceived by the eye (Kratz, 2019). However,
Antony van Leeuwenhoek discovered the microbial world (Mahadevan, 2011); the merchant
stumbled onto his discovery by looking through a homemade microscope. This development
reveals the capacity of people to develop new knowledge without considering past discoveries or
knowledge. In this regard, Van Leeuwenhoek is documented as the first individual to perceive

6. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 6
bacteria; bacteria were, later, described as small animals that moved around here, there, and
everywhere (Kratz, 2019). This affirmation upholds the notion that current ideas are not entirely
reliant on past information since individuals can develop new and unique information without
depending on past ideas.
The above ideas lead to the conclusion that current ideas are totally reliant on past
information, but in some instances, individuals can develop knowledge that is not completely
reliant on past information. Antony van Leeuwenhoek’s discovery reaffirms this position as the
scientist developed knowledge that was not previously present during his time (BBC, 2019).
Discovering bacteria during his time was a fairly reasonable achievement. However, the fact that
a great portion of knowledge in the present day is reliant on past facts creates the idea that past
information is critical to the development of new ideas. For instance, advances in biodiversity
can only be realized through the consideration of past knowledge. This type of development
reveals the centrality of past information in bettering appreciation of ideas in the current day. As
a result, in most instances, present ideas are entirely reliant on past information, but a few cases
reveal that people can develop present knowledge without considering past facts.
Conclusion
Present knowledge is wholly dependent on past knowledge, but present knowledge may
not necessarily be dependent on past knowledge. This statement is accurately depicted in the
natural sciences since this AoK considers past ideas in creating new ideas. However, drawing the
line between knowledge that should be regarded as past and the knowledge that ought to be
considered present creates a fairly perceivable dilemma in deciding whether current information

7. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 7
is totally reliant on past ideas. The modern day’s ideas and knowledge rely on past information
since these ideas are a result of past ideas, which have developed into what individuals
appreciate in the present day. For example, alchemy and biodiversity are areas of study that
borrow ideas from events and discoveries that were made in the past. However, individuals such
as Nicholson and Antony van Leeuwenhoek developed new knowledge regarding bacteria and
proto-elements; these ideas are fairly unique and do not borrow ideas from past knowledge. To
consider the statement, Present information is entirely reliant on past ideas, but present
information is also not completely reliant on past ideas relies on guaranteeing that there are no
knowledge gaps where past knowledge establishes the present day’s appreciation of the world.
Accordingly, the most desirable way to come up with ideas regarding this statement is to
investigate the significance of past ideas in shaping modern-day ideas and if completely
inimitable knowledge can be created, as discussed above.
The above ideas create new insights regarding the place of past knowledge in influencing
present-day ideas. Some ideas rely on the development of knowledge that was previously
inexistent, while others rely on the evolution of past knowledge to make sense. The ideas that
rely on past knowledge are more likely to be better developed since the evidence used to back
claims is better developed. Therefore, the knowledge that is premised on past ideas is more likely
to be better developed than the knowledge that is unique or new.

8. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 8
References
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Retrieved 4 January 2020, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/
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Buskirk, A., & Baradaran, H. (2009). Can Reaction Mechanisms Be Proven?. Journal Of
Chemical Education, 86(5), 551. DOI: 10.1021/ed086p551
Chandler, N. (2019). How Alchemy Paved the Way for Chemistry. Retrieved 4 January 2020,
from https://science.howstuffworks.com/alchemy-to-chemistry.htm
Discover Magazine. (2005). Einstein's Discovery of General Relativity, 1905-1915. Retrieved 4
January 2020, from https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/einsteins-discovery-of-
general-relativity-1905-1915

9. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 9
Ferreira, P. (2010). General relativity: Einstein's insight. Retrieved 4 January 2020, from https://
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727671-900-general-relativity-einsteins-insight/
Khan Academy. (2020). From Alchemy to Chemistry. Retrieved 4 January 2020, from https://
www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/big-history-project/stars-and-elements/other-
material3/a/from-alchemy-to-chemistry
Kindsvater, H., Dulvy, N., Horswill, C., Juan-Jordá, M., Mangel, M., & Matthiopoulos, J. (2018).
Overcoming the Data Crisis in Biodiversity Conservation. Trends In Ecology &
Evolution, 33(9), 676-688. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.06.004
Kratz, R. (2019). 10 Great Biology Discoveries - dummies. Retrieved 4 January 2020, from
https://www.dummies.com/education/science/biology/10-great-biology-discoveries/
Mahadevan, S. (2011). Leeuwenhoek: Discoverer of the Microbial World. Indian Institute Of
Science. Retrieved from https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/016/01/0002-0003
Redd, N. (2017). Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Retrieved 4 January 2020, from https://
www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html
Scerri, E. (2014). Nicholson’s wrong theories and the advancement of chemistry | OUPblog.
Retrieved 4 January 2020, from https://blog.oup.com/2014/08/nicholson-wrong-theories-
advancement-chemistry/
Scherz, M., Glaw, F., Hutter, C., Bletz, M., Rakotoarison, A., Köhler, J., & Vences, M. (2019).
Species complexes and the importance of Data Deficient classification in Red List

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assessments: The case of Hylobatrachus frogs. PLOS ONE, 14(8), e0219437. DOI: 10.1371/
journal.pone.0219437
Siyavula. (2019). What Is Chemical Equilibrium? | Chemical Equilibrium | Siyavula. Retrieved 4
January 2020, from https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-12/chemical-equilibrium/
08-chemical-equilibrium-01
The University of Montana. (2019). Understanding gaps in conservation data. Retrieved 4
January 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190917160133.htm
Webb, A. (2015). How alchemy became modern chemistry. Retrieved 4 January 2020, from
http://www.biofuelnet.ca/nce/2015/05/28/alchemy-tradition-spanning-millennia-became-
modern-chemistry/