“Philosophy begins in wonder.”
— Plato
What is the
International Philosophy Olympiad?
The International Philosophy Olympiad challenges students to engage with the deepest questions that shape individuals and societies as a whole. In an age defined by complexity, governance, and the digital self, philosophical thinking offers not just answers, but better questions.
Students who take part in the International Philosophy Olympiad will research, understand, articulate and debate the perspectives of:
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Plato
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Aristotle
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Camus
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Descartes
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Nietzsche
to name a few (see our Resources page for more details).
The regional round is an essay competition in response to one of three prompts, where finalists will advance to the international round. Strong essays will showcase an understanding of how philosophical approaches can answer the questions of the modern world.
After the regional round the top finalists advance to the international round where they will debate the intricacies of philosophy and answer questions relating to:
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Ethics, in the modern world
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Freedom, authority, and moral responsibility
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Identity, mind, and consciousness
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Justice, inequality, and the good life
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Truth, reality, and postmodernity
Participants argue, understand, and interpret how philosophy can illuminate the shared human condition.
See our Guidelines and Rules page for more information.
The Olympiad is entirely online and is an individual competition.
"Olympiads give students opportunities to show depth in their academic interest outside of the classroom and help admissions officers recognize the applicant’s passion for their area of study.
At highly selective universities, it is increasingly common for the top admitted applicants to boast multiple international and national honors which can be harder to find for humanities students. "
— Ria Jagasia, Former Johns Hopkins Admissions Officer
Judges Panel
We are excited to present the judging panel for the International Philosophy Olympiad. Our team comprises renowned philosophy professors from some of the most esteemed institutions worldwide.
Dr. Arman Korkmaz
PhD, Philosophy – Stanford University
MA, Philosophy – University of Chicago
BA, Philosophy – Middle East Technical University, Turkey
BA, History – Sabancı University, Turkey
BA, Political Science – Koç University, Turkey
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.