Singapore · MOE Syllabus Outcomes
JC 2 Knowledge and Inquiry.
Knowledge and Inquiry (H2) develops students' critical thinking by exploring the nature, construction, and evaluation of knowledge across various disciplines. Students will engage deeply with epistemological concepts and apply these frameworks to their Independent Study.
01The Nature and Construction of Knowledge
This unit introduces foundational epistemological concepts, examining how knowledge is defined, justified, and influenced by human perception and language.
Examine the correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic theories of truth. Evaluate what constitutes adequate justification for a knowledge claim in different contexts.
Investigate the role of sensory perception and cognitive processes in acquiring knowledge. Analyze the limitations and biases inherent in human observation.
Explore how language shapes, limits, and communicates knowledge. Discuss the problem of meaning and interpretation in different cultural and academic contexts.
02Knowledge in the Sciences
Students will analyze the methodologies, assumptions, and limitations of the natural and social sciences, as well as formal logic and mathematics.
Analyze the methodologies of the natural sciences, focusing on induction, deduction, and Popper's theory of falsification. Evaluate the objectivity of scientific paradigms.
An inquiry into the epistemological foundations and methodologies used to study human behaviour in the social sciences.
Investigate the nature of mathematical knowledge and its relationship to the physical world. Discuss the certainty and a priori nature of formal logic.
03Knowledge in the Humanities and the Arts
This unit explores how knowledge is constructed and evaluated in non-scientific domains, specifically history, ethics, and aesthetics.
Explore how historical knowledge is constructed from evidence and narratives. Analyze the problem of historical objectivity and the role of the historian.
Examine the basis of ethical claims and moral judgments. Compare different ethical frameworks such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics.
Investigate the nature of aesthetic experience and the evaluation of art. Discuss whether artistic judgments can be objective or are purely subjective.
04Knowledge, Society, and the Independent Study
Students will synthesize their epistemological understanding to analyze societal issues and apply research methodologies to their Independent Study.
Analyze the relationship between knowledge production and societal power structures. Discuss the ethical responsibilities of the knower in the modern world.
Guide students in identifying a viable research question for their Independent Study. Focus on conducting a literature review and designing a robust research methodology.
Examining the ethical and epistemological issues surrounding the concept and justification of national defence.