Now Open to Everyone! 

The application deadline extension: The new deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 10, 2021

2021 Classical Wisdom Stoic Essay Competition QUESTION:
“What societal issue(s) facing us today could stoicism help remedy, and how?”
E.g. political discontent or apathy; climate change; wealth inequality; consumerism; gun violence; drug abuse; partisanism in politics; terrorism; etc.
Classical Wisdom’s Stoic Essay Competition is an opportunity for lovers of the classics to have their work judged by some of the most respected and prominent Stoic philosophers today.
No entry fee is required and entrants retain all publication rights.
Entries in Stoic Essay Competition are adjudicated by professional writers. A First Prize of $500 will be awarded every three months. The top two winners will also be featured in Classical Wisdom’ flagship publication, Classical Wisdom Litterae.
Please see all the rules below, as well as how to enter.
About the Judges:
Dr. Anthony Arthur Long is the Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus of Classics and Irving Stone Professor of Literature Emeritus, as well as the Affiliated Professor of Philosophy and Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Long is often credited with spearheading the revived interest in Stoicism as well as other ancient philosophies and has written several books on the topic, including How to be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life.
How to Be Free features splendid new translations and the original Greek on facing pages, a compelling introduction that sets Epictetus in context and describes the importance of Stoic freedom today, and an invaluable glossary of key words and concepts. The result is an unmatched introduction to this powerful method of managing emotions and handling life’s situations, from the most ordinary to the most demanding.
Donald Robertson, is a writer, trainer, and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist based in Toronto and Athens, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health. He is also the renowned author of “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor” and a founding member of the Modern Stoicism Organization.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor takes readers on a transformative journey along with Marcus, following his progress from a young noble at the court of Hadrian—taken under the wing of some of the finest philosophers of his day—through to his reign as emperor of Rome at the height of its power. Robertson shows how Marcus used philosophical doctrines and therapeutic practices to build emotional resilience and endure tremendous adversity, and guides readers through applying the same methods to their own lives.
Donald Robertson is also director of a new initiative to restore Plato’s Academy.
James S Romm is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics and director of the classical studies program at Bard College in New York. His articles and essays have appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the London Review of Books, The New Yorker and the Daily Beast. He is also the author of “Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great, the War for Crown and Empire” and “Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero“.
Dying Every Day is a portrait of Seneca’s moral struggle in the midst of madness and excess. In his treatises, Seneca preached a rigorous ethical creed, exalting heroes who defied danger to do what was right or embrace a noble death. As Nero’s adviser, Seneca was presented with a more complex set of choices, as the only man capable of summoning the better aspect of Nero’s nature, yet, remaining at Nero’s side and colluding in the evil regime he created.
RULES:
  1. No entry fee is required, and all rights in the essay remain the property of the author.
  2. By submitting to the Contest, the entrant agrees to abide by all Contest rules.
  3. All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, the use of the words, phrases, etc. of a third party without written permission or proper citation, will result in disqualification, as well as excessive violence or sex, as determined by the judges. Entries should not have been previously published in professional media.
  4. To be eligible, entries must address the QUESTION in an essay up to 2,000 words in length.
  5. The Stoic Essay Competition is open to everyone. Entries must be submitted electronically. Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the article, the author’s legal name, a pen name if applicable, address, telephone number, e-mail address and an approximate word count.
  6. The winner will receive a cash prize of $500 US dollars. First place and second place winners will have their entries featured in Classical Wisdom’s flagship publication, Classical Wisdom Litterae.
  7. To be eligible for judging, the entry must be received electronically no later than midnight on August 10th, 2021.
  8. Each entrant may submit only one article.All entries are final. No revisions are accepted.
  9. Entries will be judged by professional authors. The decisions of the judges are made at their own discretion as final and binding.
  10. Winners will be individually notified of the results by phone or e-mail.This Contest is void where prohibited by law.
  11. To send your entry electronically, please email: [email protected] with the subject line: STOIC ESSAY COMPETITION