The Human Sciences

November 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #2 RLE – “Mathematical beauty activates same brain region as great art or music”

“People who appreciate the beauty of mathematics activate the same part of their brain when they look at aesthetically pleasing formula as others do when appreciating art or music, suggesting that there is a neurobiological basis to beauty.” https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2014/feb/mathematical-beauty-activates-same-brain-region-great-art-or-music Significant breakthroughs like this often require someone creative or ingenious to Read more…

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November 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #3 RLE – NYT article on Doritos

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/10/01/dining/nacho-graphic.html The New York Times article explains how consumers are manipulated by the design of Doritos. Specifically, multiple elements of the chips are created to be physically and psychologically appealing which increases consumption. Naturally, consumption of junk food is not good for one’s health. There are a number of scientists Read more…

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November 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #6 RLE – 85 year old Japanese man found not guilty of murder in retrial.

“In a retrial held decades after his conviction, a court on Thursday acquitted an 85-year-old man of a 1985 murder in Kumamoto Prefecture. The Kumamoto District Court found Koki Miyata not guilty in the murder of his shogi partner Matao Okamura in Matsubase, Kumamoto Prefecture, more than 34 years ago.” Read more…

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November 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #3 RLE – Gender and scientific research

Article: “A Scientist’s Gender Biases Mouse Research” “Duhaime-Ross reports on a new study, which found that mice are scared of men. When a male researcher works with a mouse, the mouse’s body courses with stress hormones. This doesn’t happen when a woman scientist is doing the work. The difference in how mice respond to male Read more…

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November 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #1 RLE – Border dispute

Headline: Djibouti asks UN help to end border dispute with Eritrea UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Djibouti is asking Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to help peacefully resolve a border dispute with Eritrea following the recent end to that nation’s 20-year border dispute with Ethiopia. “https://apnews.com/cd6cf3024ba24afe9baa58852397d5ab In international disputes third parties (such as Read more…

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May 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #2 RLE – Australian police and Aboriginal children (BBC)

“Australia’s New South Wales police have disproportionately targeted Aboriginal children under a repeat offender monitoring scheme, a report has said. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) looked into the cases of 429 children in 2016-18 under the Suspect Target Management Plan (STMP). It found that 72% of the children, aged Read more…

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May 2020 Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Prescribed Title #3 RLE – BBC article – badminton champion

“Manasi Joshi had just begun a career as a software engineer, when what should have been a routine commute to work ended in a tragic accident. But this moment of horror changed her life in a surprisingly positive way.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51147071. Years after her accident Joshi became a champion badminton player. Read more…

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