Institute of Ideas Academy: Student Scholarship Programme 2013

Ah, if I were a student I’d be all over this–it looks like great fun!

Dear All,

Do you have a passion for the greatest works in the classical, literary, historical and philosophical canon? Does the idea of grappling with the complexities of human nature through the works of Cicero and Plato, Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Franz Kafka and Thomas Mann, Sigmund Freud and Friedrich Nietzsche, appeal to you? Would you like to spend a long summer weekend in a stimulating and open environment, with interesting, like minded people from all walks of life? If so, then The Academy, organised by the Institute of Ideas is definitely for you.

We are aware that the full price of the weekend may be a challenge for students, so for the second consecutive year, we will be running the Academy Scholarship Programme, which is open to full time university students of any academic discipline. The scholarship will allow successful applicants to attend the Academy weekend for a fraction of the price.

The Institute of Ideas Academy is a three day residential retreat from Friday 19 July to Monday 22 July, in which we aim to get away from the overly prescriptive nature of education in society today, and be unashamedly esoteric and intellectual for a weekend, in the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. This year, there are three parallel lecture series on Classics, Literature and History as well as a plenary History of Ideas series on the Human and Nature.

The lectures will explore texts as diverse as Plato’s Gorgias, and Milton’s Paradise Lost, right through to Goethe’s Faust and Freud’s Civilization and its Discontents. Together, we will consider questions such as; are humans natural or unnatural? Are we noble savages corrupted by society? Or made human through law and civilization? Driven by unconscious urges? Or the makers of our own nature?

As well as this, prior to the main programme which will begin on Saturday 20 July, the Academy Scholars will have three additional lectures organised for them on Western Civilization, Original Sin, and Classical Music on the afternoon of Friday 19July.

University students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply to the Scholarship Programme, and whether you are an arts, humanities or science student, you will be joining Institute of Ideas members from every possible walk of life; from Professors and academics, to other students, Barristers, film makers and writers. The one thing that all Academy attendees share is a passion for knowledge. And as such, the atmosphere is one of free thinking and discussion, in which everybody will have the opportunity to cultivate themselves in beautiful surroundings, with good books, good food and drink, and in good company.

The scholarship programme offers a limited number of full time University students the chance to attend for the heavily subsidised price of £60 for three nights’ accommodation and full board at the luxury Wyboston Lakes complex in Bedfordshire.

To apply for an Academy Scholarship, please submit a 500-word (max) essay on the question: “Should we celebrate the death of Western High Culture?” Please also submit a 300-word (max) motivation on why you in particular deserve to attend The Academy.

Submit applications online by 11am Monday 13 May 2013. Once we have successfully received your application, you will be sent the reading list so that you can start preparing while we evaluate all of the submissions.

All successful candidates will be notified on Friday 31 May 2013

For more information on the Scholarship Programme, please email [email protected]

To learn more about the Academy itself, and to see full details of the lectures and schedule, please visit: http://www.instituteofideas.com/academy2013.html

We hope to see you there.

Best Wishes,

Claire Fox

Director

Institute of Ideas

Signet House

49-51 Farringdon Road

London EC1M 3JP

020 7269 9220

020 7269 9223 (direct)

www.instituteofideas.com

www.battleofideas.org.uk
www.debatingmatters.com