Sport and recreation by

A Guardian article, looking at the first official women’s blind football world championship amid an ongoing fight for Paralympic status.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-01 15:25:22 UTC

A BBC article, reviewing the film Copa 71, the 'unofficial' women's World Cup that took place in Mexico.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-06 15:09:37 UTC

An Aeon article, exploring the moral dimension of fandom - and whether it undermines our ability to behave in a moral way.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-14 15:23:16 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What kind of ‘ethical judgements’ do fans sometimes have to make about sportspeople? In what way is sports fandom like a form of love, and what implications does this bring in terms of how we view the world? What might being a fan of a particular club indicate about someone’s ethical commitments? What does it mean to be a ‘critical’ fan - and why is it important to be one? To wrap up: “Sometimes the only way to be a true fan is to walk away.” What does this mean? Would you be able to ‘walk away’ from your team if it infringed an ethical rule?

KEY TERMS Ethical judgment, Compelling evidence, Identity, Neutral perspective, Imagined communities, Bonds of loyalty

A Guardian discussion between a doctor and a former rugby player, on the evidence that contact sports can cause permanent brain damage.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:54:14 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What does the interview reveal about the interest groups involved in contact sports, and why they make it harder to access the truth? To what extent do we base our understanding of ‘truth’ on what we want to believe, rather than what we have evidence for? How typical is this issue of the difficulties of understanding scientific issues? How important is it to focus on “shared common humanity” in order to access the truth?

KEY TERMS Misrepresenting the science, Scientific fact, Alternative truths, Blunt truths, Denial

A France24 article, analyzing whether Doha’s claim to be the first ever carbon-neutral World Cup stands up to scrutiny.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:54:44 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What claims is the Qatari government making about the World Cup? Why do some experts feel these promises are “absolutely not credible”? What examples does the article provide to support this view? What does this indicate about the difficulties evaluating whether organizations are really carbon neutral - or just greenwashing? Overall, to what extent should we accept the environmental credentials claimed by governments, businesses, and other organizations? What evidence should we use to evaluate these?

Key terms Greenwashing, Credible, Transparency

An Art Newspaper article, looking at how Germany has officially declared that nightclubs are ‘cultural institutions’.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:55:20 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What are the characteristics of ‘cultural institutions’?

Key terms Cultural purpose

A fun Vox video, explaining how Data scientist Pablo López Landeros set out to determine the best place to aim a penalty kick.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:56:36 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How did Pablo Lopez use data analysis to research this issue? What are frequentist and Bayesian approaches, and which seems to offer the better method? Why might the fact that penalties are a ‘head game’ interfere with using statistics to answer this question? Overall, to what extent can statistical analysis help us to understand real-world issues?

Key terms Data, Frequentist vs. Bayesian approaches, Head game

A Conversation article, applying mathematical knowledge to the Euro 2020 Panini sticker album.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:56:43 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How important is an understanding of statistics in helping us to make sense of the world?

Key terms Probability, Statistics

A Vox video, looking at how Fortnite is being used as the venue for live music concerts.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:57:41 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How is technology supporting the way in which the arts are expressed?

Key terms Livestream, In-game concert

A Big Think article, looking at how some video games - such as The Last of Us II - qualify as great art because they give us a profound insight into the human condition.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:57:48 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE This is a useful article to prompt a discussion of both great art in general, and whether (some) video games belong in this category. Focus on the paragraph in which the writer talks about the way TLOU2 “shifts the experience of perspective in a story”. What effect does that have on us as knowers? How does that mirror what goes on when we participate in other art forms? Do you agree that this is what characterizes ‘true art’?

Key terms Perspective, Transcendence, Reframing, True art

A Big Think article, which looks at how video games have changed us as story-tellers, via an analysis of The Last Of Us.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 13:57:53 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE According to Adam Frank, why does The Last Of Us game deserve to be regarded as ‘high art’? How effectively has it been adapted for television? Why does he assert that the game is “brilliant and compelling, but you cannot say that it’s fun”? Overall, how can “technological and artistic development [in this case, video games] can reshape the way we satisfy our ancient need for stories”? Answer with reference to video games - and other forms of art.

Key terms Depict the world through narratives, New dimensions in storytelling, High art, Compelling, Emotional resonance

A Euronews report, looking at the challenges facing female athletes.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:03:06 UTC

A Guardian article, asserting that global football is "riddled with inequality... a mirror of our age"

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:04:21 UTC

A Conversation article, arguing that although Paris 2024 will be gender-balanced, inequality will still be an issue at the Olympic Games.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:05:19 UTC

A Guardian article, in which paraolympian Hannah Cockroft says that Britain is 'incredibly scary for disabled people'.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:06:10 UTC

An Independent video, featuring Vinicius Jr breaking down in tears as a result of racist abuse by La Liga fans.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:07:53 UTC

A BBC article, exploring the racism debate in Spain, as a result of the treatment of Vinicius Jr.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:08:37 UTC

A Guardian article, in which Sloane Stephens says that racist abuse of athletes is getting worse.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:09:25 UTC

A Guardian article, reporting on how a young black gymnast in Ireland was badly let down.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:10:16 UTC

A Sky sports article, which looks at the conclusion of an ICEC report concluding that racism in English cricket is 'deep-rooted'.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:11:19 UTC

An Observer article, looking at the challenges for Formula One to hit carbon zero.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:12:05 UTC

A BBC article, which looks at accusations that Fifa mislead the public about Qatar 2022 being carbon-neutral.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:12:52 UTC

A CNN article, weighing up the pros and the cons of the Enhanced Games - which will allow athletes to make free use of performance enhancing drugs.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 14:16:39 UTC

A Conversation article, exploring why chance plays such a big part in the game of ice hockey.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-05-02 13:40:35 UTC

theory_of_knowledge — 2026-06-08 10:19:16 UTC

Check out our key concepts here, which will help you to apply a critical thinking lens to this topic, and articulate your ideas about it. These concepts are highlighted.