Longlisted for Prestigious Essay Prize

Ella was selected from more than 1,500 submissions, with just 40 students making the longlist. The highly regarded competition was judged by a panel of more than 20 academics and attracted an exceptionally high standard of entries this year.

Dr Stephen Law, Editor of Think and Chair of the Judging Panel, said:

“This year, we received a huge number of entries, and the overall standard was exceptionally high. As a result, many excellent pieces unfortunately did not make it on to the longlist. Those that did are all first-class pieces of work, and we extend warm congratulations to everyone who made it.”

Exploring free will and moral responsibility

Ella discovered the competition with friends while researching topics they were studying in class. After looking through the range of essay questions, she became particularly interested in the debate surrounding determinism and decided to explore it further.

Her essay considers whether we can still be held morally responsible for our actions if determinism is true — the idea that our actions and thoughts are predetermined by previous events and natural laws.

The question also led Ella to consider the relationship between determinism and free will.

“I took an interest in the discussions surrounding the questions,” Ella explains. “Once my research led me to an interesting debate, I wanted to write about my own opinions.”

For Ella, researching a topic she had not previously studied in depth was initially challenging. She began by familiarising herself with key philosophical terms and concepts before exploring different arguments and perspectives.

Discovering a passion for Philosophy

Ella was first introduced to Philosophy by her secondary school teachers, who encouraged her to explore the subject further. She quickly became fascinated by the breadth of topics it covers and the fact that philosophical questions rarely have a single straightforward answer. That opportunity to explore different perspectives is also one of the things Ella enjoys most about studying Philosophy at Esher.

“My favourite thing about studying Philosophy at Esher is the discussions in lessons. Everyone having a different view and opinion about what we learn can lead to interesting conversations with my friends and teachers inside and outside of lessons.”

Finding out that her essay had made the longlist was a particularly special moment for Ella.

“When I found out I was put on the longlist, I was shocked but also delighted that my work was recognised by academics.”

With just 40 students selected from more than 1,500 entries, Ella’s achievement is a fantastic recognition of her ability to engage critically with complex philosophical ideas and develop her own thoughtful arguments.