TOK: Reason
-
We are built to believe, say scientists
Do humans need spirituality? An intriguing study has found that 71% of atheists believe in the supernatural. Why is belief so pervasive, even as we abandon traditional religion?
-
Hong Kong in shock after worst violence in years
Are we witnessing the last gasp of democracy in Hong Kong? The city’s streets are a battlefield between police and protesters who accuse their leaders of caving in to the might of China.
-
Nike mannequin wars: ‘Obese’. ‘Inspirational’.
Should all shops display plus-sized mannequins? Nike has led the way. But it has started a bitter row with some saying it is glorifying obesity and others praising the move as inspirational.
-
Fury as Botswana returns to elephant hunting
Should rich westerners condemn Botswana for returning to elephant hunting? The gentle giants are a natural wonder. But they are also destroying the lives and crops of local farmers.
-
Artificial stars could redesign the night sky
Why not re-write the stars? We have the ability. Already, Japan wants to create fake meteor showers, China wants an artificial moon for street lighting and Russia wants to sell advertising.
-
Calls for Gove to quit over cocaine hypocrisy
Should Michael Gove abandon the race to be PM because he took cocaine 20 years ago? According to his party’s policy, he should go to prison for seven years. But who hasn’t made mistakes?
-
1984 at 70: Still relevant says Orwell’s son
Even after a lifetime, can a classic still have a message? Few novels have had such an effect, with ‘Big Brother’, ‘newspeak’ and ‘thoughtcrime’ now firmly embedded in the English language.
-
Underwater metropolis planned as seas rise
Is the best response to climate change to invent new ways of living? The Japanese Shimizu Corporation plans to build a giant underwater metropolis powered by energy from the seabed.
-
Free world salutes ‘the greatest generation’
Do we need to relearn the importance of resolve, courage and sacrifice? The Queen described the heroes of D-Day as “my generation” — the “resilient” old men and women who saved the world.
-
Climate is our third world war, says Nobel winner
Is this a fair comparison? The economist Joseph Stiglitz says, today, that our lives are at stake — just as they were in World War Two. Donald Trump, marking D-Day, thinks it is a hoax.
-
Death, fame and the lure of the mountains
Is the heroic mountaineer who takes on superhuman challenges really just a selfish misfit? As this year’s toll mounts, climbers themselves admit that it is a dangerously addictive pleasure.
-
‘The most ghastly disaster of the whole war’
Was D-Day more of an epic human tragedy than a military triumph? Tomorrow, Donald Trump and the Queen will lead the world in marking the 75th anniversary of a famous Allied victory.
-
Britain divided over Donald Trump state visit
As the Queen rolls out the red carpet for Donald Trump today, a bitter row has opened up between those who think the honour is right and those who condemn it as hypocritical and immoral.
-
Ecstasy for Liverpool in Champions League glory
Liverpool held on to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Saturday, in a night of triumph, tears and relief. It was the culmination of a tournament that has seen English clubs dominate Europe.
-
Brexit Party trounces rivals in EU elections
In the UK, the newly-formed Brexit Party won a big victory in EU elections while populists gained ground in some countries but fell short of the very significant gains some had predicted.