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[Scroll down for published student essays]

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​We are pleased to announce the Reason & Rationality 2025 Essay Opportunity. Students who want to keep thinking and exploring are invited to submit their short, original work (no AI assistance) for possible publication on the Reason & Rationality website.

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Here are the rules: 

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Students who attended Reason & Rationality 2025 are invited to submit one philosophical essay of no more than 2,000 words (but note that shorter is better here), based on any one of the following prompts: 

• What, if anything, do we owe to future generations?

• What is the difference between bullshit and lying? 

• If you were forced to choose, would you save the life of one 13 year-old human or 10^10 mice? 

• Is it morally permissible for a blogger to befriend a corporate executive with the intention of learning and publicly exposing the corporation's financial malfeasance (e.g., illegal tax evasion)? 

• Topic of your choice -- Note: requires advance approval of the topic by Reason & Rationality prior to August 18, 2025. 

   

Instead of, or in addition to, a philosophical essay, students may submit a philosophical creative writing piece of no more than 3,500 words (this is an upper limit, submissions can be much shorter), that explores an ethical dilemma.  

 

Additional criteria for publication. Works must be philosophical in nature, original works by the author, and consistent with Reason & Rationality's values of intellectual virtue. 

 

Deadlines: 

• Submit intention to participate by August 22, 2025, by emailing info@reasonandrationality.com.  

• Final submission deadline is September 12.  Submit final draft to info@reasonandrationality.com

• Decisions on publication will be made by October 18. 

   

A portion of the essays will be selected for publication on the Reason & Rationality website.  

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No assistance or feedback will be provided with the writing process by Reason & Rationality Instructors.