Understanding Intuition in the Context of ToK
Intuition is often seen as a mysterious, yet common and powerful form of knowledge. It sits in a space between a form of knowledge and an emotional response. Notably, we base many of our vital decisions (romantic partners, jobs, etc) on intuition. However, the role of intuition in decision making isn't very well understood. When it comes to experience, intuition often doesn't seem to match up with reason-based ways of knowing.
How Intuition and Emotions Fit Into ToK
A Theory of Knowledge (ToK) that includes intuition must also consider whether emotions are a form of knowledge. Neglecting intuition (or other emotions) in ToK misses some of the most critical influences on what we know, and why we know it. Hence, it's important to discuss intuition as a form of knowledge in ToK.
AoK Natural Sciences: Defining Intuition
We kick off with AoK Natural Sciences. Volz and Zander (2009) define intuition as a non-conscious process influencing behaviour, which operates based on implicitly acquired knowledge and signals to higher processing areas in the conscious brain. This takes us straight to the realm of AoK Human Sciences, especially neuro-psychology.
Neuro-Psychology and Intuition in ToK
To see intuition as more than an elusive meta-reality, we can examine cognitive processing in the memory and attention systems. Intuition might be understood as a process of linking implicit memories to conscious and subconscious memory systems. This perspective on intuition leads us to several intriguing knowledge questions about physical sensory perception.
Voss & Paller’s research published in Nature Neuroscience in 2009, provides evidence that the retrieval of explicit and implicit memories involves distinct neural substrates and mechanisms.
Essentially the research shows that stimuli encoded and stored whilst attention was diverted elsewhere were remembered more strongly than stimuli which were directly encoded through volition. As such this research indicates that intuition is most probably a product of learned behaviour rather than an innate ‘sixth sense’. In ToK terms this means that intuitive knowledge is formed indirectly without the proactive volition of the knower - we’ll call this the “indirect learning hypothesis”.
Knowledge Questions about Sensory Perception in ToK
The 'indirect learning' hypothesis of intuition brings forth a range of interesting knowledge(ish) questions about physical sensory perception, such as:
Is evolved niche development the cause or consequence of the development of sense perception?
Why did visual perception become the primary human sense?
Have we 'lost' perceptual senses beyond those currently known?
Is the residual data from lost/declining senses now labelled as intuition?
If Intuition is based on neurological processes of perception and learning (albeit indirect learning) then we should be able to improve decision making which is apparently based on ‘intuition’. This is exactly what Wan et al (2012) demonstrated with the training of novices in the game of Shogi (Japanese Chess). They trained the novices for 15 weeks, whilst also monitoring neural activation through fMRI. Wan et al took ‘next-move’ knowledge as being indicative of the knowledge that we usually label as ‘intuitive knowledge’. They compared professional players with amateurs, and found that professionals had a significantly higher level of stimulation of the caudate nucleus, an area in the dorsal of the Basal Ganglia. The role of the caudate nucleus in voluntary motor functioning has long been known, we are now beginning to understand that it also has a role in spatial mnemonics – which is similar in aspect to muscle memory. It is clear that indirect learning is involved in muscle memory, and other sensory based memories, as such the neurological basis for intuition becomes established.
The Importance of Intuition in ToK
In ToK terms this means that intuitive knowledge forms perception, and more pertinently perspective. These ‘frameworks of knowledge’ are acquired / socially constructed (through communities of knowers). However, they have an empirical biological base. This draws into focus the question of free will vs determinism - To what extent are we free to acquire / produce knowledge independently through volition, and to what extent is the acquisition & production of knowledge bound by external determinants such as biological conditioning ? This is even more acute given that the learning that leads to intuition is involuntary and indirect - ie we don’t choose to do it, we don’t know we’re doing it, and we have little control over it !
The claim that intuition has a neurological basis should be of interest to ToK students because firstly it gives an empirical basis for knowledge without evidence. Secondly, it starts to bring ‘scientific evidence’ to the constraints on our knowledge world. It leads us into the idea that our knowledge frameworks are, to a degree, the product of the limited boundaries of our biology. As such this claim leads to the possibility of currently unspecified AoK’s, those which have possibly ‘declined’ / lost during human evolution.
Intuition's Neurological Basis and its Impact on ToK
n conclusion I come back to the power of intuition, it’s a form of knowledge that we rely upon to validate other other forms of knowledge, and sometimes to make important decisions. Neuroscience is increasingly showing us that intuition is actually a learned set of skills and knowledge. As such it should be possible for us to teach people to be more intuitive. This would lead to better, and faster, decision making. As such knowledge of intuition becomes both an individual and social good.
In conclusion, intuition is a powerful form of knowledge that we rely on to validate other forms of knowledge and make important decisions. Neuroscience is increasingly showing us that intuition is actually a learned set of skills and knowledge. Therefore, it should be possible to teach people to be more intuitive, leading to better and faster decision making. Thus, knowledge of intuition becomes both an individual and social good.
ToK Exhibition Preparation
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Stay TokTastic my friends,
Daniel, August 2023