The winner of this year’s competition is Jacob Shmidt with his essay titled ‘If we live in a physically determined universe, is anyone ever morally responsible for what they do?’ This essay will be published in Think.
Dr Stephen Law, Editor of Think and Chair of the Judging Panel, writes:
“The winning entry is an outstanding piece of work. It is beautifully written, well-structured and argued, and offers an original take on a classic problem of determinism and moral responsibility. My warmest congratulations to Jacob Shmidt on this terrific achievement.”
We would like to thank all the judges for their hard work and dedication, and for doing a very thorough and professional job.
Thank you once again to every single applicant. We greatly enjoyed reading all your essays. We also owe a big thank you to the very many schools with students who submitted essays – we appreciate your support.
Read the winning essay
For the chance to read Jacob Shmidt’s winning essay, take out a subscription to Think, our accessible philosophy journal, which is aimed at a general audience. Prices start at just £10 per year for the unwaged. Or get student or full membership of The Royal Institute of Philosophy, which includes a subscription to the journal (online access) for just £15.