The John Locke Institute is an independent educational organisation dedicated to inspiring and equipping students to become more academically ambitious and intellectually adventurous. Through its various programmes, including residential courses, revision seminars, essay competitions, and special events, the Institute aims to cultivate a love of learning and hone the skills necessary for students to achieve their academic goals.

WHO WAS JOHN LOCKE?

The Institute takes its name from the eminent 17th-century Oxford philosopher, John Locke, a true Renaissance man whose influence extended far beyond his native England to the United States and beyond. Locke was a philosopher, political scientist, economist, and medical doctor – a man of ideas and action. The Institute honours Locke's philosophy of education, which emphasises the teacher's role in fostering a love and esteem for knowledge, guiding students to become independent learners and critical thinkers.

INSTITUTE'S MISSION

In the spirit of John Locke, the John Locke Institute provides educational courses in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, and Law, designed to challenge students' existing mindsets and expose them to new ideas. The Institute's programmes aim to refine and develop independent thought, promote reasoning skills, cultivate a critical faculty, and instil an analytical cast of mind. Above all, the Institute seeks to impart a lifelong love of learning to its students.

GLOBAL ESSAY PRIZE

One of the Institute's flagship programmes is the annual Global Essay Prize, a competition that encourages young people to develop the characteristics that distinguish great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis, and persuasive style. The competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

By entering the essay competition, students can build knowledge and refine their argumentation skills, while also having their work assessed by experts. All essays are judged by a panel of senior academics from leading universities, including Oxford and Princeton, under the leadership of the Chairman of Examiners, and former Cambridge philosopher, Dr. Jamie Whyte.

TOPICS AND QUESTIONS

The Essay Prize covers seven subject categories: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law. Each category features three thought-provoking questions that challenge students to grapple with complex issues and formulate well-reasoned arguments. Additionally, there is a separate Junior Prize category for students under 15 years old.

Philosophy

Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?

Do girls have a (moral) right to compete in sporting contests that exclude boys?

Should I be held responsible for what I believe?

Politics

Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Is peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip possible?

When is compliance complicity?

Economics

What is the optimal global population?

Accurate news reporting is a public good. Does it follow that news agencies should be funded from taxation?

Do successful business people benefit others when making their money when spending it, both, or neither?

History

Why was sustained economic growth so rare before the later 18th century, and why did this change?

Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?

Why do civilizations collapse? Is our civilization in danger?

Law

When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person's public statements?

In the last five years, British police have arrested several thousand people for things they posted on social media. Is the UK becoming a police state?

Your parents say that 11 pm is your bedtime. But they don't punish you if you don't go to bed by 11 pm. Is 11 pm really your bedtime?

Psychology

According to a study by four British universities, for each 16-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of getting married increases by 35% for a man but decreases by 40% for a woman. Why?

There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?

What is the difference between a psychiatric illness and a character flaw?

Theology

"I am not religious, but I am spiritual." What could the speaker mean by "spiritual"?

Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm?

Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?

Junior Prize

Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Is there life after death?

How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools while leaving food production to private enterprise?

When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies?

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND DETAILS

The John Locke Institute Essay Competition is open to students from any country, provided they meet the age and registration requirements.

Registration Students must register for the competition before the registration deadline of Friday, May 31, 2024.

Submission All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm BST on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Candidates must be 18 years old or younger on that date, while candidates for the Junior Prize must be 14 years old or younger.

Entry is free, and each essay must address only one of the questions in the chosen subject category. Essays must not exceed 2,000 words, excluding diagrams, tables, endnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration.

The file name of the submitted PDF must follow a specific format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf (e.g., Alexander-Popham-Psychology-2.pdf). Essays with incorrect file names will be rejected.

Candidates should not include their names within the document itself but may include endnotes and a titled bibliography. They must also provide the email address of an academic referee familiar with their written academic work, such as a school teacher or another responsible adult (not a relative).

Candidates are advised to submit their essays well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.

Late Entries If a candidate misses the June 30 deadline, they may submit a late entry under two conditions:

a) They must pay a late entry fee of USD 20 by credit card within 24 hours of the original deadline. b) Their essay must be submitted before 11:59 pm BST on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

Assessment and Plagiarism The John Locke Institute uses a proprietary grading system and may ask essayists to discuss their entries with a faculty member. Various means are employed to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI, and other forms of fraud. The Institute's determinations in such matters are final.

Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force. The most successful essays are likely to be those that could potentially change someone's mind and address the strongest objections and counter-arguments.

Results and Prizes The writers of the best essays will receive commendations and be shortlisted for prizes. Shortlisted essayists will be notified by 11:59 pm BST on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, and will be invited to an invitation-only academic conference and awards dinner in London in September, where the prize winners will be announced.

All shortlisted candidates, including prize winners, will receive eCertificates acknowledging their achievement. If winners of the First, Second, or Third Prize attend the ceremony in London, they will receive signed certificates.

The winner of each subject category and the Junior category will receive a USD 2,000 scholarship towards attending any John Locke Institute programme, and their essays will be published on the Institute's website.

The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which includes a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of the Institute's summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes.

The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entertained.

KEY DATES

Registration opens: April 1, 2024

Registration deadline: May 31, 2024

Submission deadline: June 30, 2024

Late entry deadline: July 10, 2024 (subject to a USD 20 fee)

Notification of shortlisted essayists: July 31, 2024

Academic conference: September 20-22, 2024

Awards dinner: September 21, 2024

The John Locke Institute Essay Competition provides an exceptional opportunity for young minds to explore complex ideas, hone their writing and critical thinking skills, and showcase their intellectual prowess. By engaging with these thought-provoking questions and subjecting their work to rigorous assessment by leading academics, students can gain valuable experience and potentially earn recognition and support for their academic pursuits.

Whether driven by a thirst for knowledge, a passion for debate, or a desire to challenge themselves, the Essay Competition offers a platform for students to embark on an intellectual adventure, following in the footsteps of the esteemed John Locke himself.