teorema Essay Prize for Young Scholars 2025

 

Topic: Epistemic Authority and Authoritarianism

 

In recent years we have witnessed an escalation in the strategies to shed doubts on scientific consensus and to question the role that institutions, including epistemic institutions, should play in public debates and in democratic deliberation. The attacks extend to science and to the university. The pandemic and the intensification of the effects of climate change have only increased the intensity of these strategies. Science seems more politicized than ever: questions that appeared to be established according to scientific standards are presented as opinions or as ideological statements. At the same time, dangerous and antidemocratic ideas are naturalized in the name of the science of race or gender. And yet, appeal to expert knowledge is far from straightforward. What it is to be an expert has been proved to be a contentious matter, affected by our previous beliefs and identity. Besides, experts should not take over the procedures of political, democratic decision making. How can we oppose the discredit of expert knowledge and authority without paving the way for technocracy?

 

— Applicants must be under 35 on the closing date of the competition.

— Entries must be in English, and not exceed 8.000 words in length, notes and references included.

— Entries must not have been published before or be under consideration by other journals.

— All entries, prepared for blind review, will be submitted electronically both in doc and pdf format, indicating “teorema Essay Prize 2025” in the subject heading.

Entries will be judged by a panel of reputed scholars. Their decision will be final.

 

Address for submissions: journal.teorema@gmail.com

[Please, note the specific email address for this Prize]

Prof. Luis M. Valdés

Closing date: October 20th, 2025