Matija Mato Škerbić

undergraduate

• Ethics (214834) - Lecturer in charge
• Integrative Bioethics (214015) - Lecturer in charge
• New ethical culture (187891) - Lecturer in charge

graduate

• Methods of Teaching Philosophy, Logic and Ethics (214635) - Lecturer in charge
• Philosophical methodology (201535) - Lecturer in charge
• Philosophy of Education (61957) - Lecturer in charge
• Philosophy of Game and Sports (187914) - Lecturer in charge

Associate Professor Matija Mato Škerbić, PhD is a faculty member at the Department of Philosophy and Culture, Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Croatia. He is a pioneer in the fields of philosophy and ethics of sport, and the first to introduce the bioethics of sport in Croatia.

Dr. Škerbić serves as the president of the European Association for the Philosophy of Sport.

Dr. Škerbić was the first to earn a PhD in the philosophy of sport from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. In 2019, he defended his dissertation, William John Morgan’s Ethics of Sport, graduating with the highest distinction, summa cum laude.

He is the author of two seminal books: Philosophy of Sport: Emergence and Development of the Discipline (2021) and Bioethics of Sport: Challenges for the Future of Sports (2024), both of which are the first of their kind in Croatia and the region. Dr. Škerbić has published over 40 scientific papers, chapters, editorials, and reviews in Croatian and international publications, and is a member of the editorial boards of Filozofska istraživanja and Synthesis Philosophica.

Dr. Škerbić has delivered lectures at more than 80 international conferences, including prestigious events such as the World Congress of Philosophy (Beijing, China, and Rome, Italy), the World Congresses of Philosophy of Sport (Oslo, Norway, 2018; Kyoto, Japan, 2019; Penn State, USA, 2022; Split, Croatia, 2023; Odense, Denmark, 2025), the European Congress of Philosophy of Sport (Paris, France, 2021; Leuven, Belgium, 2023; Istanbul, Turkey, 2025), and meetings of the British Society for the Philosophy of Sport (Oxford, UK, 2019; Swansea, Wales, 2018 and 2022; Aberdeen, Scotland, 2024; Gloucester, England, 2026).

He is the founder and head of the Research Committee for Bioethics and Sport (established in 2017) and the Ethics, Bioethics, and Sport Conference (initiated in 2018), both groundbreaking initiatives in Croatia and the region. Since 2021, he has been an associate of the Sport Ethics Colloquium at Pennsylvania State University’s Rock Ethics Institute, led by Prof. Francisco Javier Lopez Frias.

In 2023, Dr. Škerbić served as the initiator and president of the Organising Committee for the 50th World Congress of Philosophy of Sport in Split, Croatia, a collaboration between the University of Zagreb, the University of Split (Faculty of Kinesiology), and the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP). He also serves as the Chair for the Philosophy of Sport Section at the 25th World Congress of Philosophy, Philosophy Across Boundaries, to be held in Rome, Italy, in August 2024. He also organised British Philosophy of Sport Association workshop entitled "Enhanced Games – What's Sports Got to Do With It?", held in Varaždin, Croatia, on 8 May 2026.

As an educator, he lectures on philosophy and ethics of sport at the Faculty of Kinesiology (University of Zagreb), the Faculty of Kinesiology (University of Split), University of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the University of Latvia (Riga, Latvia), and KU Leuven (Belgium).

He is actively involved in the popularization of science. He has participated as a panelist at several public science and sports events, including "Doping liberado no esporte?”: Ética e integridade nos Enhanced Games a partir de uma lente interdisciplinary“ at State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Sao Paolo, Brasil (2026), the Sunset Sports Festival (Zadar, 2025 - panel "How Far Is Too Far in Sports?"), and Trieste Next – European Science Research Festival (Trieste, 2024 - panel "Modified Bodies, Bionic Bodies"). He is also a columnist for the Croatian sports portal Sportsnet.hr, where he writes about sports-related topics.

Dr. Škerbić is also the author of the first children’s book on ancient philosophers, titled Philosophy – What the Heck is That?! 13 Stories about Ancient Philosophers (2019).

       Books

1. Filozofija sporta. Nastanak i razvoj jedne discipline (Philosophy of Sport. Emergence and Development of the Discipline), Pergamena, Zagreb, 2021
2. Bioetika sporta. Izazovi za budućnost sporta (Bioethics of Sport. Challenges for the Future of Sports), Pergamena, Zagreb, 2024. – co-author: Ivana Zagorac (University of Zagreb) (in publishing process)

Edited Books of Abstracts

1. 1st International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport Book of Abstracts, Croatian Philosophical Society, Zagreb, 2018
2. 2nd International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport Book of Abstracts, Croatian Bioethics Society, Zagreb, 2019
3. 3rd International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport Book of Abstracts, Croatian Bioethics Society, Zagreb, 2022
4. 50th IAPS (International Association for the Philosophy of Sport) Annual Conference. Book of Abstracts. University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology, 2023 – co-editors: Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire), Goran Gabrilo (University of Split)
5. 4th International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport Book of Abstracts, Croatian Bioethics Society, Zagreb, 2024
6. 5th International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport Book of Abstracts, Faculty of Croatian Studies, Zagreb, 2026

Journal Articles

1. Metodička vrijednost i uporaba filma u nastavi filozofije [Methodical Value and Use of Film in Philosophical Education], Metodički ogledi 29/30 (1-2/2009.)
2. Varaždinski filozofski krug Hrvatskog filozofskog društva [Varaždin’s Philosophical Circle of Croatian Philosophical Society], Radovi Zavoda za znanstveni rad HAZU Varaždin, 23./201
3.  Etika sporta kao novi nastavni predmet? [Ethics of sport as a new teaching subject?], Metodički ogledi, Vol.21 No.1(2014), pp. 47-66
4. Etika doping u sportu – dvije suprostavljene perspective [Ethics of Doping in Sports: Two Contrasting Perspectives], Filozofska istraživanja, Vol. 143 No. 3(2016), pp. 511-530
5. Bioetika sporta: prisutnost bioetičkih tema na području filozofije i etike sporta u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji [Bioethics of Sport: share of Bioethical Issues in the Field of Philosophy and Ethics of Sport in Croatia and Serbia], JAHR- European Journal for Bioethics, 9 (2/2018.), pp. 159-184 - co-author Sandra Radenović (Faculty of Sport and Physical education, University of Belgrade, Serbia)
6. Sport, igra, svrhovitost [Sport, Game and Purposefulness], Crkva u svijetu, No. 53 (3/2018), pp. 359-374 - co-author Ivana Zagorac (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia)
7. Bioethics of Sport and its Place in the Philosophy of Sport, Synthesis Philosophica, No. 34 (2/2019), pp. 379-394
8. Genome Editing and Selection Based on Genes Associated with Sports Athletic Performance – Some Bio-Ethical Issues, Synthesis Philosophica, 34 (2/2019), pp. 323-340 - co-authors: Zajc Petranović Matea (Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia), Erhardt, Julija (Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia), Jermen, Nataša (The Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography, Department of Lexicography, Zagreb, Croatia), Korać, Petra (Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia)
9. Tjelovježba i igranje-igara u četirima konstrukcijama sretnog ljudskog života. Thomas More, Frane Petrić, Tommaso Campanella i Bernard Herbert Suits [Physical Exercise and Game-Playing in the Four Constructions of Happy Human Life. Thomas More, Franciscus Patricius, Tommaso Campanella and Bernard Herbert Suits], Filozofska istraživanja, No. 39 (2/2019), pp. 335-346
10. Internal Values of Sport and Bio-Technologized Sport, Philosophies, 5 (2020) 4, 26, pp. 1-11.
11. Bioethics of Sport – the Look Toward the Future of Sport, Pannoniana: Journal for Humanities, 4 (2020) 1
12. Definitions of Sport in Croatian and International (Sports) Legal Acts - Intersection of the Law and Philosophy (in Croatian), Studia ethnologica Croatica, 32 (2020) 1, co-author Tomislav Nedić (Faculty of Law, Osijek)
13. How Did William J. Morgan Shape the Ethics of Sport, Kinesiology, 53 (2021) 2, pp. 326-335.
14. (In)justice on Ice: Valieva and International Sport Governing Bodies’ Justice Duties Toward Underage Athletes, Sports, Ethics & Philosophy: Journal of the British Philosophy of Sport Association, 16 (2022), 3; 1-15. – co-authors: Brett Diaz (Toronto University, Canada), Javier Lopez Frias (Penn State University, USA), Marcos Campos (Leuven University, Belgium), Colleen English (Penn State University, USA)
15. Zašto studirati filozofiju [Why Study Philosophy], Filozofska istraživanja, 2022 42 (2022) 4; 715-730.
16. Cyborg-athletes, Pressurization and Integrity of Sport, FairPlay, Journal of Philosophy, Ethics and Sports Law, 1 (2023), 23; 22-39. – co-author Ivana Greguric (University of Zagreb, Croatia) 
17. Immanuel Kant i filozofija sporta. O iskorištenim i propuštenim prilikama za poantiranje [Immanuel Kant and Philosophy of Sport. About Used and Missed Opportunities for Scoring] //  Filozofska istraživanja, 4 (2024) 44, 723-749 (koautor: Igor Eterović)
18. The CMAS code of ethics and the challenges of safeguarding athletes – the Vertical Blue Case // AUC KINANTHROPOLOGICA  61(2025) 1:32-47 (co-authors: Nenad Dikić, Marija Andjelković, Jim Parry)
19. Techno-optimism and the Enhanced Games: a critical analysis of medically supervised radical human enhancement. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 1–21. (co-author: Silvia Camporesi) https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2026.2691774

           Conference Proceedings

1. Ethics of Sport: Contours and Divisions of the Discipline, in: Savović, Branka, Mandić, Radivoj, Radenović, Sandra (eds.), International Scientific Conference Effects of Physical Activity Application to Anthropological Status With Children, Youth and Adults / Conference Proceedings, Belgrade: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, 2017, pp. 63-69
2. W. J. Morgan and A. MacIntyre – the Roots of Internalism in Sport, in: Suzović, Dejan, Janković, Nenad, Prebeg, Goran, Čosić, Marko (eds.): Book of Proceedings. International Scientific Conference Effects of Physical Activity Application to Anthropological Status With Children, Adolescents and Adults, Belgrade: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, 2019, pp. 488-493

Chapter in the Book

1. About 1st International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport, in: Matija Mato Škerbić (ed.) 1st International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport, Croatian Philosophical Society, Zagreb, 2018, pp. 9-14
2. Ethics, Bioethics and Sport in Southeast Europe, in:  Škerbić, Matija Mato (ur.), 2nd International Conference Ethics, Bioethics and Sport, Zagreb: Croatian Bioethics Society, 2019, pp. 9-14
3. Praktički i praktični sport: razotkrivanje tajnog života jednog filozofa [Autotelic and Instrumentalized Sport: Revealing the Secret Life of a Philosopher], in: Sunajko, Goran; Jurić, Hrvoje; Selak Raspudić, Marija (eds.) Praktička ontologija. Povodom 70 godina Line Veljaka, Zagreb: Hrvatsko filozofsko društvo i Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2022, pp. 103-113
4. Philosophy of Sport Started in 1972 – Who is to be Praised for What?, in: Lecocq, Gilles ; Andrieu, Bernard ; Agostinucci, Marie ; Lorente, David ; Legendre, Alexandre (eds.) AUX FRONTIÈRES DU PHÉNOMÈNE SPORTIF - Des temps de métamorphoses, des espaces de résonances - At the Borders of the Sports Phenomenon. Times of Metamorphoses and Resonance Spaces, Paris: L'Harmattan, 2022
5. Why There is so Little Discussion on the Non-Human Animals in (the Philosophy of) Sport?, in: Perreira Martins, Constantino (ed.)  Do Cavalo, On Horses, Del Caballo, São Paulo: Dialética, 2024, pp. 62-76
6. The philosophy of sport in Southeast Europe, in: V. Girginov, & F.J. López Frías, Eds. Routledge Resources Online – Sport Studies, Routledge, 2025  https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367766924-RESS203-1
7. Christianity and Sport in Croatia; in: Dries Vanysacker, Brian Bolt, Chad Carlson, Matt Hoven, Ivo Jirásek (eds) A Companion to Christianity and Sport in Europe and North America (19th-21st centuries): vol.1 Western and Eastern Europe, Brepols Publishers, 2026, pp. 323-342.

Book Reviews

1. Massimiliano Lorenzo Cappuccio (ed.): Handbook of Embodied Cognition and Sport Psychology // Synthesis philosophica 36 (2021), 1; pp. 245-248
2. Bioethics, Genetics and Sport by S. Camporesi and M. McNamee // Pannoniana: Journal of Humanities, IV (2020) 1, pp. 261-267
3. Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Sport by M. McNamee and W. J. Morgan // Synthesis Philosophica 34 (2019) 2, pp. 484-486
4. Fizička kultura i etika [Physical Culture and Ethics] by Miloš Marković // Pannoniana - Journal of Humanities, 6 (2022), 1; 245-248.
5. Sport and moral conflict: a conventionalist theory: William Morgan, Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 2020, 226 pp., $35 (paperback), ISBN 9781439915400. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 1–4. (co-author: Chris Yorke) https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2026.2701670

Doctoral Disertation

1. William John Morgans' Ethics of Sport, Zagreb: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2019

Children’s Book in Philosophy

1. Philosophy – What the Heck is That? 13 Stories of Antique Philosophers (with Bruno Ćurko), Petit Philosophy, Zadar, 2018

Professional interest:

general: ethics; bioethics; methodology of teaching philosophy and (bio)ethics; philosophy of education; Croatian philosophy and philosophy in Varaždin County

specific: philosophy and bio-ethics of sport - internal or intrinsic values of sport; definition and characterisation of sport; normative theories

Membership:

Croatian Philosophical Society - Secretary (2018 - 2020); member of International Affairs Committee

Croatian Bioethics Society

International Association for the Philosophy of Sport (IAPS) - a member of the Executive Committee

British Philosophy of Sport Association (BPSA)

European Association for the Philosophy of Sport (EAPS) - president

International Forum of Teachers (IFT) of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics.

MANAGED PROJECTS

1. Integrating Ethics of Sport in the Secondary School Curriculum – Erasmus + Ka2 Strategic Partnership For School Education 2017-2019 (worth: 140 000 euros)
2. Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Practicing Cultural Activities, University of Zagreb Institutional Project, 2022
3. Culture, Media, and Sports: New Communication Paradigms in the Digital Environment, University of Zagreb Institutional Project, 2023
4. Media, Culture, and Diversity: Building an Ethical Framework for an Inclusive and Tolerant Digital Media Space, University of Zagreb Institutional Project, 2024
5. Sport and Christianity in Croatia – From Sokol Societies to the Modern Philosophy and Bioethics of Sport, University of Zagreb Institutional Project, 2025

PARTICIPATED IN PROJECTS

1. „Kroatistika, Andragogija, Filozofija i Kulturologija – usklađivanje s HKO-om (KAFKa)" 2019. - 2022. (UP.03.1.1.03) 
   • Nositelj: Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci.
   • Uloga: član radne skupine za osmišljavanje i razvoj dokumenata: Standard zanimanja, Standard kvalifikacija te Studijskih programa iz područja filozofije. "Scientific Center of Excellence for Integrative Bioethics" (2019.–2024.)
2. „Filozofski i odgojni aspekti suosjećanja“ - znanstveno-istraživački projekt 2016. - 2019. (2016. br. 43-917-1061; 2017. - br. 43—918—1030; 2018. - br. 43-921-1037).
   • Nositelj projekta: Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Filozofski fakultet
   • Voditeljica: prof. dr. sc. Ivana Zagorac
   • Uloga: istraživač, vanjski suradnik.