Talent Blessing Karoro
TOK EXHIBITION
What counts as good evidence for a
claim?
22nd April 2022
Prompt: What counts as good evidence for a claim?
Our world is guided by knowledge. Different knowledge on the same topic may
result in disputes. However, when do we convert a claim to a fact.
“Will Smith slaps Chris Rock’
Source: independence.co.uk
The image to the left is a
screenshot of a controversial
viral video clip of Will Smith
slapping Chris Rock during the
Oscars. This object is
important because sometimes
the evidence provided can be
both supporting the two sides of an argument and it becomes difficult to use the
evidence to devalue one side of the argument. Some students in SOS HGIC
claimed that it was a skit and some opposed this claim. Will Smith is a
professional actor, Chris Rock is a comedian and they are both internationally
recognized. During the Oscars, Chris Rock cracked a joke about Jada Smith's
hair being bold. The audience found it funny but not Will Smith because his wife
suffers from alopecia areata. Right on the spot, less than 30 seconds after the
joke, Will Smith stood up, walked intrepidly and slapped Chris Rock. This
shocked the audience and it was unexpected. The question now becomes, was it
an act or it was a real-life event that happened out of emotions of anger. Well,
Will Smith is a professional actor so some people say it was an act. This does not
give adequate evidence for such a claim. Now, what counts as good evidence for
a claim. Well, the evidence must be tangible and must not be an assumption. In
addition, there must be no question left unanswered for good evidence to
account for a claim. Well, after the event, Will Smith gave an emotional speech
sobbing saying, “I just wanted to protect women, because that’s how I was
raised”. Now, this statement does not support the claim that the video clip was
an act. Even after the event, Will Smith was suspended from the Oscars for 10
years or any International event related to arts award-winning, meaning his
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career was ruined. The fact that Will Smith was suspended from the Oscars for
ten years, gave an emotional speech justifying himself why he slapped Chris
Rock and even put emotions into it clears the claim that it was an act. There is
no question left to answer if it was a real slap or an act between Chris Rock and
Will Smith. This answers the question of what counts as good evidence for a
claim. Good evidence for a claim in such disputes must have the subject's
judgment like what Will Smith did. Good evidence for a claim must leave no
question unanswered. Good evidence for a claim must have facts and not
assumptions.
source: mysportdab.com
The above image is a photo collage from mysportdab.com. This image supports
the prompt because it tells how to provide adequate evidence when the victim is
the only evidence available. The two individuals in the photo are both
ex-couples. The boy in red Mason Greenwood a professional footballer is
accused to have sexually assaulted and physically abused Harriet Robson a
model (female bleeding in the image). Mason Greenwood is well known for his
kind act toward his teammates and friends and even to his ex-girlfriend Harriet.
Greenwood and Harriet are also known for spending time together and posting
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beautiful romantic pictures on social media. However, unexpectedly, Harriet
posted a video of her bleeding telling people “if you want to know what Mason
Greenwood does”. It was shocking to the whole world because all football fans
could have never imagined Mason abusing a woman. The question that would
give the world a true insight is, what counts as good evidence for this claim.
Harriet firstly posted a video of her bleeding claiming Mason had abused her.
She then sent audio of Mason’s voice forcing her to have sex with him. Now, this
evidence convinced the police enough to arrest Mason. Mason was arrested for
a day and went to court. It is clear that yes Mason abused Harriet even if we do
not know the reason behind the abuse. So claims depend on situations that one
is in. For cases like rape and sexual assault, an audio of the abuser and also
video projecting the claimed skit is enough to be good evidence for a claim.
Mason was speechless and could not defend himself as it stands right now. Good
evidence must include images, videos and also a recorded voice to qualify it as
good evidence. Good evidence must not be assumptions and must be
confidently said if it is a scenario in a verbal interview.
Source: WWE Watch Youtube
On the other hand, claims
can fail to provide adequate
evidence. This is because in
some circumstances it is so
difficult to place personal
judgment and convert your
claim to a justifiable, true and
believed statement. Such circumstances result from extremely complicated and
confusing acts. For example, WrestleMania is considered to be real and fake.
This object is important because it helps us understand how disputes without a
winner must be unbiasedly judged. This means no clear evidence has been
provided to fully conclude that WrestleMania is fake or real. Wrestling happens
live but it has inhuman acts such as jumping from a 98 feet spot and still not
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getting an injury. Wrestlers bleed when fighting which might contribute to it
being partially realistic but it is still not convincing enough to be fully a real
sport. Another factor is the wrestler's reaction time. Wrestlers punch and still
wait for the opponent to punch back before he/she throws another punch. The
question is what counts as good evidence for a claim. In this case, no conclusion
can be drawn because both claims have the same weight of evidence and cannot
devalue the other claim. All wrestlers have one thing in common, which is
professional acting. Even if they fight and bleed these factors bring doubts and
eliminate the realistic part of WrestleMania. In conclusion, claims can provide
evidence but once the other hand brings an equated claim with the same weight
of evidence, conclusions cannot be drawn. Therefore claims cannot be
converted to facts if some questions are left unanswered.
Conclusion
Good evidence for a claim must leave questions unanswered and must devalue
the opposition side if there is one. In some cases, the only convincing evidence
is visual images or video clips.
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Bibliography
MySportDab. 2022. Mason Greenwood Girlfriend SPEAKS For The First Time Since His Arrest
(Details) - MySportDab. [online] Available at:
<https://www.mysportdab.com/2022/02/mason-greenwood-girlfriend-speaks-for-the-first
-time/#>
[Accessed 22 April 2022].
Tapp, T., 2022. Jay Leno Addresses “Disturbing” Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars Slap – Deadline.
[online] Deadline.com. Available at:
<https://deadline.com/2022/04/jay-leno-will-smith-oscars-slap-1235003266/> [Accessed
22 April 2022].
Zaldivar, G., 2022. Greek Soccer Player Giorgos Katidis Banned for Life After Hitler Nazi Salute.
[online] Bleacher Report. Available at:
<https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1572412-greek-soccer-player-giorgos-katidis-bannedfor-life-after-hitler-nazi-salute> [Accessed 22 April 2022].
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