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Reason & Rationality Institute

A Residential Summer Program for Students entering 7th and 8th grade in Partnership with The Pingry School

Reason & Rationality Institute introduces middle school students to the methods of Philosophy, Policy and Economics (PPE). The theme for Summer 2026 is Rational Individuals, Responsible Systems. Students will learn to reason clearly about complex questions, including:​

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  • How following individually rational choices can lead to social inefficiencies 

  • How seemingly morally rational actions can produce ethically counterintuitive outcomes

  • How reasons succeed — or fail — to count as good evidence

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Reason & Rationality classes are lively conversations that encourages students to challenge ideas, follow arguments where they lead, and enjoy the shared pursuit of truth.

Program Details: The program will be held at Pingry’s campus in Pottersville, New Jersey, giving students a genuine taste of residential life at a leading preparatory school. 

 

Each day includes at least four hours of rigorous, discussion-based learning, followed by group activities, including the Pottersville ropes course. Evenings include games and social activities related to program themes. Students arrive on July 26 and depart on the morning of August 1, 2026. Rising 7th and 8th grade students (as of Summer 2026) are eligible to apply. See tuition and pricing below.  

 

​​​Enrollment is limited. Interested families should contact Peter Bach-y-Rita, Ph.D. at info@reasonandrationality.com

Hear Student Reflections:

Hear Instructor Reflections:

Teachers and Curriculum

Reason & Rationality Institute's curriculum was designed for advanced middle school students by Dean of Academics, Peter Bach-y-Rita, Ph.D. (MIT), J.D. (Stanford), a parent of two current middle-schoolers, in consultation with a team of philosophy doctoral students. Reason & Rationality classes are taught by Ph.D. students from leading academic philosophy programs.  ​

 

Class topics and concepts include:

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  • Cost Benefit Analysis

  • Incentives 

  • Equilibria

  • Opportunity Cost

  • Coordination Problems

  • Prisoners' Dilemma

  • Theory of Knowledge

  • Theories of the Personal Good

  • The Trolley Problem

  • Rawls' Veil of Ignorance

  • Ethical Issues in AI

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​​​Through discussion-based seminars, games, and case studies, students practice explaining their reasoning, asking follow-up questions, and listening carefully to others. They work through concrete examples that highlight incentives, trade-offs, and unintended consequences, and begin to see how individual choices fit into larger systems. Students also gain experience disagreeing thoughtfully, without rushing, posturing, or shutting down.

 

Students will leave more confident speaking in groups, more willing to revise their views, and more comfortable engaging seriously with difficult ideas at school and beyond. The program is designed to boost students' engagement in classroom discussions, an important differentiator in teacher recommendations for independent high school and college applications.  

 

Program Schedule

Why Reason & Rationality Institute?

Tuition and Pricing


The program fee of $4,300 covers all classes, activities, housing, and meals for the week-long program. A $1,000 deposit is due at the time of application, which promptly will be refunded if the application is not accepted, with the remaining balance being due within seven (7) days of acceptance. Reason & Rationality will refund the full deposit and any tuition payments if request is made prior to April 22, 2026. 

Questions About Reason & Rationality's Vision for Conversation-Based Education?

Check out the frequently asked questions on our website or reach out to Reason & Rationality at info@reasonandrationality.com.

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