To introduce and popularise our new feature "Let the Dead Speak for Themselves", we are happy to announce an essay competition!
Everyone, young or old, Swiss or not, philosopher or non-philosopher (if there is such a thing) is invited to participate and may win, on the 1st of October 2025, 100 Swiss francs.
The Idea
You receive the login-data of a dead philosopher, for example Gottlob Frege, and then write an article in that Philosopher's spirit and style!
The topic of the Essay may – but does not have to – fit with the theory and writings of dead philosophers. For example, with Frege's profile you could center your essay around the question: What are numbers? Which, of course, would fit Freges Philosophy. However, you can also center it around the question: What is love?
How it Works
Submitting
E-mail us and tell us who your favorite philosopher is! We well then give you the login-data of the profile. We have made a preliminary list of dead & famous philosophers.
When logged in under the pseudonym of such a famous philosopher, you can click on the pencil icon at the top right and write an article. In the "Pre-Headline" field, write "impersonate-competition". Then write your text in the different text blocks, add one or more images (see the how-to for that), optionally attach an audio or video file, and click "submit".
The essay can be written in English, French, German or Italian (any language of the portal) and preferably in the mother-tongue of the philosopher whose profile is used.
A useful instruction for how to post an article can be found here.
From the day you are given the login credentials, you have one week to submit your article (and some comments to other articles, if you want to do so, though they will not enter the competition). Then someone else receives them and chooses a new password.
evaluation
The winner will be chosen by the users! Our newly implemented rating-system for articles will serve as the judge. More specifically: The text with the highest average rating by 01.10.2025 will win the first prize. Similiar for the second and third place.
- prize: CHF 100
- prize: CHF 50
- prize: CHF 50
If you have questions write us!