Theory of knowledge class: Brazil’s vaccination hindered by bottlenecks and a sceptical leader

This article picked by a teacher with suggested questions is part of the Financial Times free schools access programme. Details/registration here.

Specification: 

IB DP TOK Links Natural & human sciences, politics

Relevant Big Question Experts

Key terms and ideas Confidence, Evidence

Integration Biology, sports & health science, global politics

Click to read the article below and then answer the questions:

Brazil’s vaccination hindered by bottlenecks and a sceptical leader

This article looks at the vaccine response of countries in Latin America, focusing particularly on what’s happening in Brazil. It’s a good way to introduce the debate:

• Who should be given power over scientific decisions within a society: the elected officials, the scientists, the people or another group?

• Looking at the second half of the article, how does a country’s political alignment influence the way it seeks a scientific solution?

Michael Dunn, theoryofknowledge.net