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TOK: The possession of knowledge carries an ethical responsibility.” Evaluate this claim.

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TOK: The possession of knowledge carries an ethical responsibility.” Evaluate this claim.
Every decision that one makes throughout the course of their lives affects them in even the most minor way possible. The responsibility of choosing a career path or a simple task such as picking out a restaurant to have dinner in could potentially have implications on another factor in one’s life. For instance, someone who chooses an inadequate career path will not be as content as someone who chooses his or her perfect career. Similarly, if one was to choose a restaurant that had a reputation of bad sanitation, they would be much more likely to be subject themselves and the person they are dining with to a case of food poisoning due to their poor dining choice. Within the claim, it is already insinuated that knowledge is a virtue that can be possessed. The possession of knowledge plays an important role in these examples because if you know what you like, or what you don’t like, you most likely will choose a career that matches your interests and if you know that a restaurant is known for having poor sanitation, you probably won’t dine there.

The possession of knowledge is also part of a much larger picture being that in some cases it can affect a large part of our society. For instance, the acquired knowledge that individuals have today provides them with the means of power to change the structure of the world we live in today in the way they feel is appropriate. These types of people include scientists, researchers, and doctors. A good example to depict how the possession If a scientist were to find a solution to one of these diseases, they would be faced with the decision of either sharing his research or withholding the discovery until an offer of a substantial sum of money is offered. As the French philosopher Voltaire once said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Hence, the ethically responsible choice would be to reveal his research as he has the power to save or improve the lives of countless individuals. However, could one’s reasons for



Bibliography: Books: Galilei, Galileo, and Maurice A. Finocchiaro. "Philosophical Prelude." Galileo on the World Systems: A New Abridged Translation and Guide. Berkeley: University of California, 1997. 47. Print. Voltaire. Jean, Adrien. Beuchot, Quentin and Miger, Pierre, Auguste. "Œuvres de Voltaire, Volume 48". Lefèvre, 1832 Websites: Flanders, Nancy. "Sex Selection Abortions Shock Us, but Abortion of the Disabled Still Justified." Live Action News Opinion RSS. Live Action, 9th Feb. 2012. Web. 09 Mar. 2013. Novella, Steven. "Science-Based Medicine." » The Hidden Cancer Cure. David Gorski, 23 Feb. 2011. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.

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