Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Competition

21 January 2022

Abi and Maddie SQ

Two Year 12 students, Abigail and Madeleine, have won prestigious places at a Philosophy event hosted by Merchant Taylors’ School, in conjunction with the Royal Institute of Philosophy.

They were asked to write an essay on the topic of “The Body” and Madeleine was commended for her essay on the objectification of women’s bodies by drawing upon feminist philosophers such as Simone de Beauvoir. Abigail wrote an essay critiquing Augustine’s ideas about the relationship between the soul and the body, also winning praise from the judges.

Their success means that they will now be given the opportunity to read their essays at the “Young Philosophers’ Conference” on 2nd February and to hear replies from respondents, including Stanley Hauerwas, Professor Emeritus at Duke University and Shannon Vallor, Professor and Baillie Gifford Chair in AI Ethics at Edinburgh University.

Abigail and Madeleine look forward to the challenge of being put through their philosophical paces at the event and it will surely stand them in very good stead as they prepare to apply for Philosophy courses at top Universities.

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