MEDIA ALERT
For Release: 06-01-11
Contacts: John
Davis
thekidsphilosophyslam@gmail.com
507-467-0107
URL: www.philosophyslam.org
Press Release:
For Immediate Release: 06-01-11
Contact: John Davis, 507-467-0107, thekidsphilosophyslam@gmail.com
Dan Rohr of Nutley, New Jersey named “The Most Philosophical Student in America for 2011” and winner of the 11th annual National Kids Philosophy Slam.
Lanesboro, MN – Do the ends justify the means? Dan Rohr, age 17, from Nutley High School in Nutley, New Jersey won the 11th annual National Kids Philosophy Slam by successfully arguing that the ends do not justify the means and earned the title of "The Most Philosophical Student in America". The 2011 National Kids Philosophy Slam challenged students from around the country to answer the question: " Do the ends justify the means? The response was tremendous, with over 5,000 entries submitted from students across the nation. A panel of philosophy judges selected Dan Rohr as the winner of the eleventh annual National Kids Philosophy Slam. For his philosophical efforts, Dan Rohr received a gold medal, $500 savings bond, and the title of "The Most Philosophical Student in America for 2011".
Rohr writes in his winning essay "The ends do not justify the means. The question of whether or not this is the case is fairly simple: do aspirations to positive or moral ends justify the use of immoral means?” Rohr also cited the 1932 Tuskegee Syphilis experiment as a case study as to why the ends do not justify the means. Rohr also stated “Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, for example, does not allow for deception of any kind, as it is hard to imagine a world in which everyone lies about everything. In general, that is the difference between the ends justifying the means and not. In the latter, the rights of individual lives are preserved”.
Dan Rohr attends Nutley High School in Nutley, New Jersey, from which he will graduate as valedictorian. His academic interests mostly consist of science and math, but philosophy is also a strong interest. He is also a jazz trumpet player, although John Coltrane is his favorite artist. He will attend Cornell University in the fall to study Math and Physics. Dan was honored to have been selected as "The Most Philosophical Student in America". "This experience has exposed me to a variety of views and has taught me to accept, though not necessarily agree with, the perspective of others."
Chris Mills, 17, of Thomas Jefferson H.S. for Science & Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, was the 2nd place winner of National Kids Philosophy Slam. Mills argued that the ends do justify the means in his essay. “The Kantian theory of the categorical Imperative is an important contribution to the discussion on whether the ends justify the means. Immanuel Kant placed respect for human beings, and more importantly individuals, at the pinnacle of the moral pyramid.” Mills concluded that “Conflict occurs not because some people advocate the ends and others the means, but rather ultimate moralities clash. Looking exclusively from the perspective of the individual, one’s own ends do justify their means.”
The Mission of the National Kids Philosophy Slam is to give kids a voice and to inspire kids to think by unlocking their intellectual and creative potential through a unique and powerful philosophical forum. This unique program allows kids to grapple with life's big issues in an accessible format, as younger students answer philosophical questions through artwork, poetry and music. The Kids Philosophy Slam Program creator, John P. Davis, an artist and visionary, also created The Great American Think-Off, which was designed to make philosophy accessible to the everyday person in a fun sports-type format.
The Kids Philosophy Slam has attracted nationwide media coverage, including the NBC Today Show, National Public Radio, The New York Times, TIME Magazine for Kids, The National Education Association and the Christian Science Monitor. The 2010 National Kids Philosophy Slam also selected national philosophy winners in Kindergarten through the eighth grade as well as an international winner.
Media: To review the finalists’ winning essays and background information, visit: http://www.philosophyslam.org/prizes. To secure National Philosophy Slam interviews with finalists, or winners in any grade level, contact John Davis at 507-467-0107or email at thekidsphilosophyslam@gmail.com.
Global warming not the greatest challenge facing humankind as
Washington D.C. area high school student Meghan Nelson is named the winner of the 2008 National Kids Philosophy Slam.
Lanesboro, MN - Is global warming the greatest challenge facing humankind? Meghan Nelson, age 16, from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology won the eighth annual National Kids Philosophy Slam by successfully arguing that global warming was not the greatest challenge facing humankind and earned the title of "The Most Philosophical Student in America".
The 2008 National Kids Philosophy Slam challenged students from around the country to answer the question: "Is global warming the greatest challenge facing humankind?" The response was tremendous, with over 5,000 entries submitted from students across the nation and from around the world. By an overwhelming 3-1 margin, most students did not think that global warming was the greatest challenge facing humankind. A panel of philosophy judges selected Meghan Nelson as the winner of the eighth annual Kids Philosophy Slam and "Most Philosophical Student in America".
Nelson writes in her winning essay "Global warming, if we continue in our usual passive ways, will eventually overwhelm the precious environment...This still is not humanity’s greatest challenge. It is not global warming which will be the ultimate undoing of mankind, but our alarming lethargy and passiveness to take a stand against it. Global warming is simply a side effect, the enemy is us, and we must overcome our apathy. This formidable lethargy, from not only being isolated from the environment but also not working to pinpoint and correct the major causes of global warming, will cause humankind to continue on its path to disappear".
Meghan Nelson currently is a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. Her favorite subjects are history, any
sciences but especially biology, and of course philosophy. Meghan is a member of the Environmental Impact Club, and in her free time she reads and plays the piano.
Daniel Leef, 16, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was the 2nd place winner of National Kids Philosophy Slam. Leef based his argument that global warming was not the greatest challenge facing humankind citing the philosophy of utilitarianism of John Stuart Mill. Leef writes "Using Mill's utilitarian philosophy as our guide, I do not believe that global warming is our greatest challenge at the moment. Disease causes immediate death and suffering for many of our fellow humans. Conquering pandemic disease is the greatest challenge of our time...The third place winer was Elizabeth Soricelli, 17, from Preston High School, Bronx, New York, argued that the biggest threat to humankind was humanity itself, and the threat of nuclear weapons. Soricelli stated "Global warming is definitely not the greatest challenge facing mankind: the biggest threat to mankind is mankind. As the philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, "Either man will abolish war, or war will abolish man." The fourth place winner was Kayla Bruun, 17, and the fifth place winner was Rex Gelb, 17, both are students from The Park School of Baltimore in Brooklandville Maryland.
The National Kids Philosophy Slam provides a powerful opportunity to help kids, teachers and parents grapple with life's big issues in an accessible format. The Kids Philosophy Slam Program creator, John P. Davis, an artist and visionary, also created The Great American Think-Off, which was designed to make philosophy accessible to the everyday person in a fun sports-type format.
The Kids Philosophy Slam has attracted nationwide media coverage, including the NBC Today Show, National Public Radio, The New York Times, TIME Magazine for Kids, The National Education Association and the Christian Science Monitor.
The 2008 National Kids Philosophy Slam also selected national winners in Kindergarten through the eighth grade.
Media: To review the finalists’ winning essays and background information, visit: http://www.philosophyslam.org/press_fin.html To secure Philosophy Slam interviews with finalists, or winners in any grade level, contact John Davis at 507-467-0107or email at info@philosophyslam.org.
