About Our Essay Prize

We are delighted to announce the launch of The Lyceum Essay Prize, an exciting opportunity for students aged 16–17 years old to engage critically with some of the most important questions in philosophy, politics, and theology. Designed to encourage independent thought, clarity of argument, and intellectual creativity, the competition invites entrants to submit essays of up to 2,000 words. There is a choice of nine essay questions (see below).

Examiner: Dr Max Baker-Hytch, Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Oxford.

Entry deadline: 5pm, Friday 20th March. 

Online prize ceremony: Friday, 10th April. 

Prizes: £500 for first place, £200 for second place, and £100 for third place. 

The Examiner

Dr. Max Baker-Hytch is a Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Oxford. He received his DPhil (PhD) in Philosophy from Oxford in 2014, following which he held postdoctoral research fellowships at both Oxford (2014–15) and the University of Notre Dame (2015–16). Since joining Oxford in 2016, he has taught courses across epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and theology.

Politics

Essay Prize Questions

Q1. Is democracy the best form of government?

Q2. Is economic inequality an inevitable feature of society, or a problem that can and should be solved?

Q3. Is war ever justified in the modern world? Give real-world examples to support your argument.

Philisophy

Q1. Do we possess free will, or are our choices determined by forces beyond our control?

Q2. Is beauty objective, or is it only “in the eye of the beholder”?

Q3. Do human beings have an immaterial soul?

Q1. Can anything be objectively good or evil if there’s no God?

Q2. Is prayer more about changing God’s will, or about changing the person who prays?

Q3. Are all religions equal pathways to God?

Theology

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate?

Only students who are 16 or 17 years old at the submission deadline can enter.

How do I submit?

Submissions can be made online through our dedicated essay prize submission portal before the deadline.

When is the deadline?

The deadline for this year is Friday 20th March at 5 PM.

Can I submit multiple essays?

No, participants can submit only one essay.

AI & Plagiarism

May I use AI?

No, essays using AI tools like ChatGPT and others will be disqualified.

How is AI detected?

All essays undergo checks for AI-generated content before acceptance. We will also do some short online interviews with some candidates to ensure AI hasn't been used.

What happens if I plagiarise?

Essays that plagiarise will be rejected.

Can I appeal a disqualification?

Appeals are considered only if you provide clear evidence supporting your case.

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you! Please fill out the form or find our contact details below.

Contact

The Thought Academy Ltd

Company number 16417589

Address 124 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1V 2NX

Email info@thethoughtacademy.com