‘The Scholars’ Programme is the highlight of my week. It provides us with knowledge that not only stretches beyond our syllabus, but makes us analyse and explore things that would otherwise have remained simply accepted, even what knowledge itself is! Fundamentally, it is a chance for us to form and express our own views on ideas ranging from Utilitarianism to Communism and in my view this is an invaluable part of my life at the College. One that maximises happiness and minimises sorrow and one that is not equal to its counterparts! It is certainly one of the many weekly events at the College that will help when we leave for university and in later life, whilst also being a rather lively and stimulating way to start the day!’ Tohid Ismail, Year 11
4. Should scientific progress make us optimistic? 5. Is it wrong to change your accent? 6. Defend kitsch. 7. Devise a new punctuation mark – and defend it.
Ali Neden, Year 13 (who won third prize) Colour experience: the example of Mary This essay argues that the best approach to the example of a colour-blind person who suddenly does see a colour is what is called attribute dualism. In this view, there is only one type of matter but non- physical or mental properties can exist within that matter. When Mary sees red, the experience is not just physical. Harry Goodhew, Year 12 The explanatory gap The explanatory gap – a term coined by the Australian philosopher, David Chalmers – refers to the fact that even after all the physical processes behind the brain’s function have been examined, we are left with (the unexplained) fact of the subjective experience of things. I tried in this essay to make a vigorous materialist case. Max Nugent, Year 12 Consciousness and the brain ‘In this essay, I explored and analysed the various views of the explanatory gap, the gap between the physical facts of the brain and the phenomenon of consciousness. The three main approaches are termed materialist, dualist and mysterian.’
8. Do future generations have rights? 9. How flexible should a constitution be? 10. How should the press be regulated?
The Erasmus Competition Thirteen schools contest the Erasmus Competition. This year, the theme was ‘Consciousness’ and the essays were set and judged by Professor David Papineau of King’s College, London. Essays by four boys from the College were entered: Francis Aznaran, Year 13 Science and the riddle of consciousness The riddle of consciousness is how the non-physical entity that we call ‘mind’ arises out of the purely physical and, further, how the mind possesses an awareness of its own existence and functionality, which may be called the ability to self-examine. The physical sciences, which have hitherto had great success in explaining non-mental phenomena, could resolve the first of these issues, but not the second.
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