This week’s Quid Scio
“Quid scio?” (quee-day see-oh) translates roughly to “what do I know?”
It is a reflective writing practice that prompts you to:
think about what you know, and
think about what lived evidence you have to justify this knowledge.
Not only does this practice help you isolate the differences between belief, opinion, and knowledge, it asks you to reflect on the justifications you see in your own life and the implications of these justifications.
This practice of reflecting, justifying, and evaluating develops the practical knowledge (skills) that are key to having a growth mindset—and to engaging meaningfully with TOK.
This week’s word:
Step 1:
Write the question “What do I know about health?”
Step 2:
Make a bulleted list of answers to the question. These answers should be simply stated and begin with the words “I know that…”.
For example, if the selected word is “progress” you might write:
I know that progress is not linear.
I know that not everyone agrees on what constitutes progress.
I know that making progress takes effort.
Step 3:
Select one bulleted answer that you know is true. You can justify it with your lived experiences and it aligns with one or more truth theories.
Step 4:
Write “I know this is true because…” and justify the statement with your lived experience. Be detailed. Allow yourself to freewrite.
Step 5:
Reread what you have written.
To what extent is your justification reasonable/logical?
To what extent does your justification align with other lived experiences and/or other second-hand knowledge?
What are the implications of your justification?
After this reflection, do you still consider this knowledge or do you now consider this a belief? Why?
Step 6:
Is there a mantra, motto, or pithy statement that you can derive from your reflection?
Would keeping this statement in the back of your mind this week be beneficial to you?
