“Philosophy is not a theory but an activity.”
— Ludwig Wittgenstein
Welcome to the
International Philosophy Olympiad
The International Philosophy Olympiad is divided into two stages: a regional essay competition and an international debate, where high school students worldwide are challenged to think critically, write persuasively, and debate the fundamental questions of ethics, knowledge, and existence.
Participants will:
Examine evergreen philosophies
Construct reasoned and original arguments
Debate the ideas that shape civilization
Tackling themes like:
Ethics in the age of AI
Freedom, authority, and moral responsibility
Identity, mind, and consciousness
Justice, inequality, and the good life
Truth, reality, and postmodernity
The Olympiad is entirely online and challenges students around the world to explore the deepest ideas that have perplexed thinkers throughout history.
How does the Olympiad work?
The Olympiad consists of two rounds: Regional and International. Finalists from the regional round advance to the international round.
Round 1: Regional Essay Competition
Participants will write an essay addressing one of three prompts released on the competition launch date.
Essay Guidelines:
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Essays are limited to 1000 words.
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Submissions must be within 7 days of the launch date.
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Essays must reference philosophers or their theories.
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Originality, clarity, and conceptual depth are crucial.
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Essays must be submitted as a PDF via our official Typeform link.
Round 2: International Debate
Finalists from the regional round advance to an online debate, where they’ll be assigned a perspective, philosopher, philosophical school, or ethicist and respond to an ethical or metaphysical scenario.
See Rules and Guidelines for more details
How to Participate
Step 2
Choose from three prompts and submit a 1,000-word essay in 7 days
Step 3
Regional finalists are selected and invited to the live debate round
Step 4
Finalists debate a real-world scenario using assigned perspectives
Step 5
Top 3 winners receive international recognition and prizes
General Timeline
See our Timeline page for more a more detailed schedule.
June
Registration
July
Olympiad Begins
August
Finalists Announced
Why You Should Participate
Expert Judges
Recognition & Prizes
Stand Out
Essays and debates are judged by philosophy professors, as well as scholars from top universities.
Winners receive publication opportunities global recognition and college consulting credit with university faculty and tutors.
Universities prefer students who showcase insight, reasoning skills, and intellectual independence.
Register for the Olympiad
Dr. Arman Korkmaz
PhD, Philosophy – Stanford University
MA, Philosophy – University of Chicago
BA, Philosophy – Middle East Technical University
Dr. Arman Korkmaz is a prominent philosopher known for his interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from philosophy, history, and political science. His research primarily focuses on existentialism, the philosophy of language, and the ethics of technology. Dr. Korkmaz has held academic positions at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Toronto, and he currently serves as a professor at Sabancı University.
Judges Panel
Testimonials
"Before the Olympiad, philosophy felt like an abstract concept confined to textbooks. After a week of studying it, I learned just how much philosophical ideas can shape us."
-Lara Chen
"I was nervous about sharing my philosophical arguments in front of esteemed judges, but the Olympiad encouraged me to articulate my thoughts confidently. I found my voice and I felt empowered to express my beliefs."
-Samir Patel
"Learning about philosophies from around the world showed me the richness of the different ways people think. The Olympiad deepened my appreciation for the global dialogue in philosophy."
-Nina Rodriguez