The Junior Philosophy Olympiad (JPO) 2024 concluded its final round on May 18 at Olympia School, where 24 teams from grades 4 to 9 participated. This event was organized by Olympia School in collaboration with National Geographic Learning Vietnam and Oxford University Press, sponsored by IEG Global.
The competition, themed "Thich Nhat Hanh & NextGen," started in April 2024 and attracted hundreds of students nationwide. In the initial round, students answered philosophical questions related to happiness and time. Based on creativity, logical thinking, language accuracy, and online voting, 14 teams from the Griffin division (grades 4-6) and 10 from the Olympia division (grades 7-9) advanced to the next rounds.
In the Collaborative Writing round, teams had 90 minutes to discuss and write essays on topics related to Thich Nhat Hanh’s philosophy. Following this, the Ethics Bowl round saw intense debates on various philosophical issues.
For example, two Griffin teams debated whether material rewards should be used to encourage academic excellence. Team A argued against it, highlighting the potential for financial motivation to overshadow genuine learning and lead to issues like dishonesty. Team B countered, suggesting that rewards are not the primary motivator for students and can support those with less financial means.
In the Olympia division, the debate topic was the ethical implications of erasing traumatic memories using technology. Team A opposed the method, citing privacy concerns and the importance of learning from past experiences. Team B supported it, emphasizing its benefits for severely distressed patients.
The JPO aims to foster philosophical thinking, research skills, and critical reflection among students, providing a valuable opportunity for them to expand their worldview and develop a profound, humane perspective as global citizens.
The final round of the Junior Philosophy Olympiad (JPO) 2024 took place on the afternoon of May 18 at Olympia School. This event was organized by Olympia School in collaboration with National Geographic Learning Vietnam and Oxford University Press, sponsored by IEG Global.
Starting from April 2024, JPO 2024 attracted hundreds of contestants from various schools nationwide, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Vung Tau.
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