This is to invite postgraduate Philosophy students (MA/PhD) and undergraduate philosophy students in the third or fourth year of undergraduate study to apply for the maiden edition of Intellectus Prize in Philosophy (IPiP). IPiP is part of Intellectus Mentoring (InteM a project of Intellectus: The African Journal of Philosophy powered by Rosey International Foundation.
The maiden edition is for students enrolled into Philosophy programmes in a Nigerian University, and it is designed to focus on some contemporary issues facing the Nation and the African continent.
There are two levels of participation: Postgraduate level and Undergraduate level.
Here are the details for participation:
Postgraduate Level
Topic: The Philosopher King and Leadership in Nigeria
The topic is developed from statement credited to Socrates that:
“Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy … cities will never have rest from their evils…” (Republic 5.473; Jowett 1991, p. 203).
Note: Students are free to address the topic from any philosophical perspective and/or method but with a clear focus on contemporary Nigeria and the consistent challenges surrounding leadership.
Submission should be no more than 6500 words, excluding references and abstract.
Undergraduate Level
Topic: Social Media and Traditional Virtues: a Quandary for Modern African Youth
The topic is developed based on the possible merits and demerits of social media in its encounter with African traditional virtues. Since social media can be a channel for the influx of cultures, norms and values that are foreign, though not necessarily bad, how do we make a balance whenever the influx is tantamount to eroding traditional norms and values? If we have contemporary (social media generation) youths as political leaders in Africa, to what extent would African traditional virtues be sacrificed?
Note: Students are free to address the topic from any philosophical perspective and/or method but with a clear focus on Africa and/or Nigeria and the consistent extant issues ongoing on social media.
Submission should be no more than 4500 words, excluding references and abstract.