Impressively, six Lancing students have been shortlisted for this year’s John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize: Bella B, Zafer B, Raphael C, Clara H, Kelly Z and Carla U. This is a formidably competitive prize, with an extraordinary 63,328 entrants from around the world, and their success is a real tribute to their high intelligence, excellent independence of thought and research rigour.
Bella B has been shortlisted for the History Prize. She wrote with formidably well-researched sophistication on the medieval philosopher Peter Abelard, arguing that he should be considered the figure in history who has most enlarged human freedom.
Zafer Be has also been shortlisted for the History Prize, for his subtle, intelligently wide ranging response to the question: ‘Should anyone be ashamed of their nation’s history? Should anyone be proud of it?’
Raphael C has been shortlisted for the Economics Prize, responding with impressive analytical flair to the question: ‘What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit? Is such behaviour better or worse, on balance, than the behaviour we should expect if all enterprises were owned by charities or governments?’
Clara Holzapfel has also been shortlisted for the Economics Prize, writing with acute insight on the question: ‘What will be the effect on socio-economic mobility of the UK government’s plan to impose value added tax on school fees?’
Kelly Z and Carla U have also both been shortlisted for the Psychology Prize, for their superbly argued essays considering whether Eleanor Roosevelt was right to declare ‘no one can make you feel inferior without your consent’.
This remarkable achievement reflects the intellectual curiosity and independence of thought nurtured at Lancing. We congratulate Bella, Zafer, Raphael, Clara, Kelly and Carla on their success and wish them the very best as the competition progresses.
