Director General’s Welcome
Welcome to the John Locke Institute’s 2024 Oxford Senior Summer School.
It is my great pleasure to invite you to join us for an intellectual adventure that will challenge what you think, and how you think, about a range of interesting and important questions. The topics we discuss will be matters of great consequence for many people, and the insights you acquire and the skills that you develop will, I hope, prepare you to play your own part in the years to come in changing our world for the better. I hope you will also begin to build friendships with some remarkable and interesting people.
To prepare for this enterprise, let me ask you to open your mind to the possibility that there is still much to learn and perhaps even a few things to unlearn. Intellectual humility coupled with a spirit of bold adventure will enable you to make the most of the exciting opportunities you are about to meet.
Best wishes,
Martin Cox Director General
RULES
In order to maintain a healthy, safe, and intellectually fertile environment, we require students to honor the following behavioral expectations:
• Not to possess or consume illegal drugs.
• Not to bring to the summer school or acquire during the summer school or consume during the summer school any alcoholic drinks.
• Not to smoke or use smokeless tobacco or vaping products within the precincts of the Campus.
• Not to visit a bedroom other than one’s own.
• Not to be outside of one’s own accommodation building after evening check-in, 10 – 10:30 pm, or outside of one’s own bedroom after 11:00 pm.
• To be punctual for all scheduled activities, and respect the curfew.
• To check in with the staff member(s) on duty during the stipulated time each evening.
• Not to engage in violent, threatening, or discourteous behaviour, but to treat others with respectful civility.
• To act in accordance with national and local laws, and the policies of our host institutions.
• To comply with all fire alarms, and not to endanger others by tampering with fire alarms or other safety equipment.
A student who violates any of these rules will be required to depart prematurely from the program. In such a case the Director of the Institute will write to the student’s academic referee and to the head of the student’s school or university. Students dismissed from the program for misconduct will bear any costs associated with early departure.
GROUPS
Bulínová, Barbora
Li, Mingyang
Pomfret, Emily
Qin, Lelin
Rivkin, Ilia
Scaramozzino, Emanuele
Zantoni, Giovanni
A B
Aggarwal, Reyaansh
Chen, Siyu
Irving, Madeleine
Kishida, Hosei
Lee, Taeho
Yan, Shuyi
Young, Fred
Mr. Martin Cox
Director General, John Locke Institute
Mr. Tom Palmer
Chairman of the Council of Fellows, John Locke Institute
FACULTY
Martin Cox was an entrepreneur and company director in the transport and retail sectors, then national chief executive and international board member of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Following a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, he taught economics at Oxford and helped found the International Growth Centre, a joint venture between the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics. He founded the John Locke Institute in 2011.
Dr. Tom Palmer is an American author and theorist, serving as a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and Vice President for International Programs at the Atlas Network.
Palmer lectures globally on political science, public choice, civil society, and individual rights. His work has been published in various scholarly journals and mainstream media, including the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times.
He authored the book “Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, and Practice” in 2009.
FACULTY
Dr Whyte was a lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, where he won Analysis Magazine’s prize for the best article in the world by a philosopher under 30.
He is the author of several books, including the best-selling Crimes Against Logic and the winner of the Bastiat Prize for economic journalism.
Dr Whyte was a management consultant at Oliver Wyman, Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs, and the Leader of a national political party in his native New Zealand.
Dr. Stephen Davies
Senior Fellow in History,
John Locke Institute
Dr. Steve Davies was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Economic History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has also been a Visiting Scholar at the Social Philosophy and Policy Center at Bowling Green State University, Ohio.
Dr. Davies is the Senior Education Fellow at the IEA. He has authored several books, including Empiricism and History (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) and was co-editor with Nigel Ashford of The Dictionary of Conservative and Libertarian Thought (Routledge, 1991).
Academic Director, John Locke Institute
Dr. Jamie Whyte
Mr. Robin Koerner
Director of Heterodoxy
John Locke Institute
FACULTY
Robin Koerner holds an M.A. and an M.Phil. in Physics and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University.
He consults in political messaging and psychology and is a writer of the Brownstone Institute.
He founded WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over a hundred volunteers, which translates foreign commentary and opinion about the USA from mainstream media all over the world. He is the author of “If You Can Keep It”.
Lord Daniel Hannan Member of the house of Lords
Lord Hannan is a British writer, journalist and politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party, he was a Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 to 2020. He is currently a sitting member of the House of Lords, and has since 2020 served as an adviser to the Board of Trade.
Lord Hannan has written columns for The Sunday, Telegraph, the International Business Times, ConservativeHome, and the Washington Examiner among others. He has published several books including Why Vote Leave, How We Invented Freedom & Why It Matters, What Next: How to Get the Best from Brexit.
Toby Young Social Commentator
Dr. Nick Tasker
Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Oxford,
FACULTY
Toby Young is a British social commentator.
He is the founder and director of the Free Speech Union, an associate editor of The Spectator, creator of The Daily Sceptic blog, and a former associate editor at Quillette.
Prof. Nick Tasker teaches Logic, Elements of Deductive Logic, General Philosophy, Knowledge and Reality, Philosophy of Logic and Language, Philosophy of Science.
After a B.A. from Sheffield, Prof. Nick came to Oxford for the B.Phil. He subsequently spent a few years living in Paris where he studied linguistics, but returned to the UK to do a PhD at Leeds.
Prof. Tasker is Stipendiary Lecturer in Philosophy at Hertford College and Stipendiary Lecturer in Logic at Keble College.
FACULTY
Managing Director & Residential Dean Program Director
Jake Dibden Preceptor
Marie Loubeyre Nour Bou Malhab
Victoria Kapeliushna Director of Adnissions
William Cox Preceptor
Maddy Colburne Activity Leader
FACULTY
Pheobe Lewis Preceptor
Saanvi Trepuramallu Junior Preceptor
Preceptor
Beth Noble Preceptor
Anna Hazolyshyn
Joshua Robinson Junior Preceptor Junior Preceptor
Sky Wong
FACULTY
Izzie Gore
Junior Preceptor
10am11.30am
12 o’clock12.45pm
Sunday
28 July
GROUP A
GROUP B
Arrive at Radley College
Check into Boarding Social (C / D / L / H) and Morning Coffee in front of Theatre
Directors’ Welcome Address
Mrs Marie Loubeyre, Dr Jamie Whyte, Mr Robin Koerner & Mr Martin Cox (Parents are welcome to attend) Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
Please meet us in front of the Dining Hall at 1.50pm to walk to the Science Lecture Theatre
2.05pm2.35pm
2.45pm3.15pm
Lecture: How to Disagree Productively Dr Jamie Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
Lecture: Power of the Paradigms Mr Robin Koerner Science Lecture Theatre
3.20pm4pm Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
4.10pm5pm
Residential Dean Welcome Address & Introduction to Ideological Turing Test
Mrs Marie Loubeyre, Dr Stephen Davies, Dr Jamie Whyte & Mr Robin Koerner Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
9pm9.30pm
10pm11pm
Early bird evening check-in (9 - 9.30pm)
For those of you who want an early night, please sign in with our staff in the common room of your Boarding Social
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Monday 29 July
GROUP A
9am - 9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Mr Martin Cox Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture
Dr Steve Davies Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture
Dr Tom Palmer Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm - 2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
3.30pm3.50pm
5.20pm - 6pm
GROUP B
Q&A with Dr Palmer Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
Seminar: Life Hacks
Mr Martin Cox & Dr Jamie Whyte (G1)
Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
Optional Elective: Economics & History (The Wealth Explosion)
Dr Steve Davies Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
9pm9.30pm
10pm - 11pm
Early bird evening check-in (9 - 9.30pm)
For those of you who want an early night, please sign in with our staff in the common room of your Boarding Social
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
9am - 9.45am
Tuesday 30 July
GROUP A GROUP B
Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Dr Jamie Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture
Mr Robin Koerner Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture
Dr Steve Davies Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm - 2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
Q&A with Dr Davies Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
Seminar: The Classical Art of Persuasion
Dr Tom Palmer (G1)
3.30pm3.50pm Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
5.20pm - 6pm
Optional Elective: Politics (Public Policy)
Dr Tom Palmer Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
7.30pm8.30pm
9pm - 9.30pm
10pm - 11pm
Ask Me Anything
Dr Steve Davies & Dr Whyte (moderator) Theatre
Early bird evening check-in (9 - 9.30pm)
For those of you who want an early night, please sign in with our staff in the common room of your Boarding Social
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
*Laundry service the next day. Please add clothes to the dedicated laundry basket in your Boarding Social by 11pm*
9am9.45am
Wednesday 31 July
GROUP A
10am10.40am
11.10am
11.45am1pm
GROUP B
Breakfast Dining Hall
Pick up your lunch bag right after breakfast (dietary requirements are provided for so please pick up the correct lunch bag)
Seminar
Mr Robin Koerner (G1)
Please meet us in front of the Clock Tower at 10.50am
Bus departs for Oxford
*please wear your lanyard, bring water and a change of clothes*
Punting on the River Cherwell (Sky, Will, Phoebe, Anna, Izzie)
Oxford Punting, Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, High St, Oxford OX1 4AU
*no lanyard or valuables on the water*
1.30pm2.30pm
Explore Oxford
Picnic in Christ Church Meadow
Please meet us near Tom Gate (main entrance of Christ Church)
3pm4.15pm Explore Oxford
Punting on the River Cherwell (Josh, Beth, Saanvi, Sky, Izzie)
Oxford Punting, Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, High St, Oxford OX1 4AU
*no lanyard or valuables on the water*
Please meet us in front of the Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH, by 5.15pm
5.30pm5.45pm Bus departs for Radley
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
10pm11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Thursday 1 August
GROUP A
9am - 9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Mr Martin Cox Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture
Mr Toby Young Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture
Lord Hannan of Kingsclere Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm - 2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
GROUP B
Q&A with Lord Hannan of Kingsclere Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
Seminar: Practical Rhetoric Dr Steve Davies (G1)
3.30pm3.50pm Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
5.20pm - 6pm
Optional Elective: Economics (Microeconomics)
Mr Martin Cox Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
7.30pm9.30pm Karaoke (Optional) Theatre 10pm - 11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Friday 2 August
GROUP A
9am9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Dr Tom Palmer Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture
Dr Jamie Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture
Mr Toby Young Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
GROUP B
Q&A with Mr Toby Young Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
“How to be Productive at University & in your Career”
Dr Tom Palmer & Dr Jamie Whyte (G1)
3.30pm3.50pm Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
5.20pm6pm
Optional Lecture: Psychology with Mr. Robin Koerner Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
10pm11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
9am9.45am
Saturday 3 August
GROUP A GROUP B
Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Dr Steve Davies Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture
Dr Tom Palmer Science Lecture Theatre
Lecture
12.20pm1pm
Mr Martin Cox Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
3.30pm3.50pm
5.20pm6pm
Q&A with Mr Cox Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
Seminar Mr Martin Cox (G1)
Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
Optional Lecture: Philosophy (Epistemology) with Dr. Jamie Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
7.30pm9.30pm
Movie Night Science Lecture Theatre 10pm11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
9am9.45am
Sunday
4 August
GROUP A
GROUP B
Breakfast Dining Hall
Pick up your lunch bag right after breakfast (dietary requirements are provided for so please pick up the correct lunch bag)
Please meet us in front of the Clock Tower at 10.45am
11.10am Bus departs for Blenheim Palace *please wear your lanyard, bring water*
11.45am1.30pm
1.30pm3pm
Explore Blenheim Palace Woodstock OX20 1PS
Cricket Game
PHILOSOPHERS’ XI V BLENHEIM PALACE CC
3pm - 4pm Cricket Afternoon Tea
3.30pm5pm Cricket Game
Please meet us near the cricket field at 5 o’clock to walk back to the bus.
5.30pm5.45pm Bus departs for Radley
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall 10pm11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
*Laundry service the next day. Please add clothes to the dedicated laundry basket in your Boarding Social by 11pm*
Monday
5 August
GROUP A
9am9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Mr Martin Cox Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture
Dr Steve Davies Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture
Dr Nick Tasker Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
3.30pm3.50pm
5.20pm6pm
GROUP B
Q&A with Dr Nick Tasker Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
How to hack your workload
Mr Martin Cox & Dr Steve Davies (G1)
Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
Optional Lecture: Metaphysics with Dr. Nick Tasker Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
10pm11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Tuesday
6 August
GROUP A
9am9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture
Dr Jamie Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.20am12 O’clock Lecture Mr Robin Koerner Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture
Dr Steve Davies Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm2.30pm
2.40pm3.20pm
3.30pm3.50pm
5.20pm6pm
GROUP B
Q&A with Dr Davies Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
Seminar Dr Jamie Whyte & Dr Steve Davies (G1)
Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
Optional Elective: Epistemology with Dr. Nick Tasker Science Lecture Theatre
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
8.30pm9.30pm Swimming Pool
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
10pm11pm
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
*Laundry service the next day. Please add clothes to the dedicated laundry basket in your Boarding Social by 11pm*
Wednesday 7 August
GROUP A
9am9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am
11.10am
GROUP B
Pick up your lunch bag right after breakfast (dietary requirements are provided for so
How to build a reputation and Network
Mr Robin Koerner (G1)
Please meet us in front of the Clock Tower at 10.50am
Bus departs for Oxford
*please wear your lanyard, bring water and a change of clothes*
11.30pm5pm Explore Oxford
Bus departs for Radley
Please meet us in front of the Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH, by 5.30pm5.45pm
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
10pm11pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Thursday 8 August
GROUP A
9am9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.40am Lecture Mr Martin Cox Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall
11.30am12.10pm Lecture Dr Nick Tasker Science Lecture Theatre
12.20pm1pm Lecture Dr Jamie Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
1.10pm1.50pm Lunch Dining Hall
2pm2.30pm
GROUP B
Q&A with Dr Whyte Science Lecture Theatre
All classrooms are on the first floor of Queen’s Court (‘The Donut’)
2.40pm6pm Tutorials
6.30pm7.15pm Dinner Dining Hall
10pm11pm Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Friday 9 August
GROUP A
9am9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
10am10.45am
GROUP B
Director General’s Valedictory Lecture Mr Martin Cox, Victoria Kapeliushna Science Lecture Theatre
10.50am11.20am Morning Coffee Dining Hall 11.20am1pm
Controversial Ideas Presentations (practice run)
Mr Martin Cox (G1)
1.10pm1.50pm
3.20pm3.50pm
4pm5.30pm
Lunch Dining Hall
Dress for Dinner
Afternoon Tea Dining Hall
Controversial Ideas Presentations Science Lecture Theatre
Please meet us in front of the Clock Tower at 6pm
6.30pm9.30pm Farewell Dinner
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Bus departs for Radley at 9.45pm
Regular evening check-in (10 - 10.30pm)
10pm11pm
Please be in your own accommodation building by 10:30 pm and in your own bedroom by 11:00 pm
Saturday 10 August
ALL GROUPS
Please vacate your bedroom by 9am. You can store your luggage in the common rooms of your Boarding Social.
9am - 9.45am Breakfast Dining Hall
We hope you enjoyed your time here in Oxford. Please stay in touch with us!