IB Group 3 Philosophy, Core Theme, Being Human, Identity, Personhood, Freedom

What This Is and Why It Matters for IB

Being Human is a core theme that explores identity, personhood, and freedom. It's crucial for IB students to understand this concept as it appears in the IB Diploma Programme's Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Extended Essay (EE) components. Students often get this concept wrong by failing to distinguish between identity and personhood. Losing marks or misunderstanding this concept can lead to a low TOK grade or a poorly written EE.

Where It Appears in the IB Syllabus

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): Knowledge Question 1 and Knowledge Question 2 in the TOK Guide (2022 edition) ?. Extended Essay (EE): Core Theme 2 in the EE Guide (2022 edition) ?.

Key Command Terms

• Analyze: Break down complex ideas into smaller parts to understand their relationships.
• Evaluate: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of a concept or argument.
• Discuss: Present a balanced view of different perspectives on a topic.

Step-by-Step Understanding

1. Recall the definition of identity: Who you are, your characteristics, and experiences.
2. Understand personhood: The capacity to think, feel, and act as a human being.
3. Explore the relationship between identity and personhood: How they intersect and differ.
4. Analyze the concept of freedom: Its role in shaping identity and personhood.
5. Avoid confusing identity with personhood: Be precise in your language and arguments.

Assessment Criteria Connection

Real Student Mistakes

Student 1

What the student did: Confused identity with personhood in their TOK essay. Why it lost marks: The student failed to distinguish between the two concepts, leading to a poorly argued essay. What the correct approach should be: Clearly define and separate identity and personhood, and analyze their relationships.

Student 2

What the student did: Failed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the concept of freedom in their EE. Why it lost marks: The student presented a one-sided argument without considering alternative perspectives. What the correct approach should be: Evaluate the concept of freedom by assessing its strengths and weaknesses, and considering different perspectives.

Exam Technique (Paper-specific)

• TOK Essay: Allocate 30 minutes for each essay, and use the TOK Essay Guide (2022 edition)-as a reference.
• EE: Use the EE Guide (2022 edition)-to structure your essay, and allocate 3 hours for the exam.

Internal Assessment / Extended Essay Relevance

Apply the concept of being human to your EE by exploring how it relates to your chosen topic. For example, you could analyze how the concept of freedom influences identity and personhood in the context of your chosen topic.

TOK Connections (if applicable)

This topic connects to Ways of Knowing (WOK), specifically Reason, as it involves analyzing and evaluating complex concepts and relationships. Sample TOK discussion question: "How do our experiences and perspectives shape our understanding of being human?"

Quick Check (Self-Assessment Questions)

1. What is the difference between identity and personhood?
   • Model answer: Identity refers to who you are, while personhood refers to the capacity to think, feel, and act as a human being.
2. How does the concept of freedom relate to identity and personhood?
   • Model answer: Freedom influences identity and personhood by allowing individuals to make choices and shape their own experiences.
3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the concept of being human?
   • Model answer: The concept of being human has strengths in that it allows for individuality and creativity, but weaknesses in that it can lead to conflict and inequality.

Revision Card (60-Second Summary)

• Identity: Who you are, characteristics, and experiences.
• Personhood: Capacity to think, feel, and act as a human being.
• Freedom: Role in shaping identity and personhood.
• TOK Essay Guide (2022 edition) ?.
• EE Guide (2022 edition) ?.

If You Get Stuck

• Review the TOK Guide (2022 edition)-and EE Guide (2022 edition) ?.
• Ask your teacher or study group for help.
• Break down complex concepts into smaller parts to understand their relationships.

Related IB Topics

• Human Rights: Connects to the concept of being human by exploring the relationship between individual rights and freedoms.
• Social Justice: Relates to the concept of being human by analyzing how social structures influence identity and personhood.
• Psychology: Connects to the concept of being human by exploring the role of cognitive and emotional processes in shaping identity and personhood.