3. “Labels are a necessity in the organization of knowledge, but they also constrain our understanding.” Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Labels – labels are used to different between different kinds of organisms, different schools of philosophy, different kinds of art, etc. The focus with this prescribed title is how labels are used to organize knowledge. Make sure you look for RLEs where labels are used in this way.
Also, consider how organizational labels can be used for different purposes. A politician may try to label an opponent’s proposal in a particular way just to create a negative impression of it.
Necessity – Evaluate why labels are necessary in an AOK – look at the knowledge framework for guidance. Check how and why the use of labels is necessary in RLEs.
Organization of knowledge – How is knowledge organized in a AOK and what role do labels play? How important is it in each AOK to have knowledge organized in systemic way? How does the use of labels compare and contrast in different AOKs?
Constrain our understanding – How does the use of labels constrain understanding? Do labels in an RLE oversimplify complex ideas? Do they dissuade people from seeing how elements of an RLE don’t fit the label? Are the parts of an RLE that fit a label given too much importance the parts that don’t? Do labels prevent creative thinking?