3. Is there solid justification for regarding knowledge in the natural sciences more highly than knowledge in another area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
“Is there…” Historically, not many prescribed titles are yes / no questions. This prescribed does have a yes / no answer though although it is highly unlikely that you will end up 100% in the “yes” or no” camp. The best TOK essays as a whole do not end up completely on one side of an argument. Your essay still needs a definitive answer though and your thesis statement and essay as a whole need to clearly answer the question.
“solid justification” – Different people (and groups of people) will view knowledge in the natural sciences in vastly different ways. They will have different kinds of justifications for viewing knowledge in the natural sciences more highly (or less highly) than knowledge in other AOKs. You need to carefully look at how people justify their opinions about knowledge in the natural sciences vs. knowledge in other AOKs.
“Knowledge” – make sure you are clear and specific in your essay about what kinds of knowledge you are focusing on. Make sure the marker can see precisely what aspects of knowledge you are discussing in each paragraph of your essay.
“more highly” – How can knowledge in the natural sciences be viewed more (or less) highly than knowledge in other AOKs? To give one example, the need for peer review may be a reason why some view knowledge in the natural sciences as more trustworthy than knowledge in other AOKs. However, there are definitely drawbacks to peer review and from some points of view peer review is a negative, not a positive.
“Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.” – Your choices are limited but clear with this prescribed title – you MUST choose the natural sciences and one other AOK. If you do not write about the natural science or you write about the natural sciences and two other AOKs it seems clear that you will lose marks.