[122] in libertarians
Essay Contest (any takers?)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Vernon Imrich)
Sun Aug 21 23:10:43 1994
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 94 23:05:48 -0400
From: vimrich@flying-cloud.mit.edu (Vernon Imrich)
To: libertarians@MIT.EDU
>A fwd:
Thanks for your interest. Here's the info on the topics
and compensation. Info on The Wisdom Society itself
can be sent to you as a separate e-mail message.
GOD/MAN/LIFE ESSAYS:
The Wisdom Society will pay $750 for each of the best
original essays written on the following four topics:
"Reverence for Life - YES" or "Reverence for Life - NO" or
"God Created Man" or "Man Invented God." The essays
must be between 1,600 to 1,800 words each and will be used
in two printed debates to be published by The Wisdom
Society. Selection of the four winning essays will be
based on clarity of thought, scope of knowledge on the
topic, and quality of writing.
The purpose of the debates is to explore the possibility
that confusion about such topics may be among the
fundamental causes of the problems facing mankind.
More than anything else, attachment to irrational or
unfounded beliefs can compromise an individual's ability
to make wise decisions. Compound this millions of times
and you have the foolishness that comes out of even the
most democratic of governments. Realize that government
decisions channel enormous resources into decisions that
create enormous consequences, and it's no mystery why the
world is facing such severe crises.
And the root of it all is nothing more mysterious than the
attachment to irrational beliefs. An unknown sage once said:
"Truth will prevail if not deprived of its natural weapons of
investigation and debate." This is why The Wisdom Society
investigates and debates widespread beliefs that need
to be regularly reviewed lest we, as individuals and as a
nation, continue to unwittingly channel vast amounts of
time, energy and money into decisions that have their
roots in unconsidered attachments to popular beliefs.
Reverence for Life essays must be received by Midnight,
August 31, 1994, and God/Man essays must be received by
Midnight, September 30, 1994, via e-mail to the CompuServe
73164,3441 address, or to the Internet address
wisdom@powergrid.electriciti.com, or to the AOL address
WISDOM9834. You may also submit essays via postal
service mail, preferably on disk (MS-DOS ASCII plain
text).
Contestants will receive a complementary copy of the final
printed debate when it is published, and their receipt of
this copy will serve as announcement of the winning
essays. The authors of the winning essays will assign
copyrights for their essays to The Wisdom Society, and
will be paid within 10 days of publication date of the
printed debate in which his or her essay appears.
All contestants should be prepared to submit a photo of
themselves, along with a 30-35 word bio, to be published
along with the winning essay.
A sample of a previously published printed debate is
available upon request. Samples can only be sent via
postal service mail.
SOWELL ESSAY:
The Wisdom Society will pay $1,000 for the best original
essay written on the following book: "Conflict of
Visions" by Thomas Sowell. The essay must be between
4,000 to 5,000 words and will be used in The Wisdom
Society's "Project II" publication. Selection of the
winning essay will be based on clarity of thought, quality
of writing, and fidelity to the book about which the essay
is written. (The book may be acquired through The
Wisdom Society, or your local bookstores/libraries.)
The purpose of "Project II" is to provide the public with
lucid and interesting summaries of major books about the
dynamics of public policy.
Essays must be received by Midnight, September 25, 1994,
via e-mail to the CompuServe 73164,3441 address, or to the
Internet address wisdom@powergrid.electriciti.com, or to
the AOL address WISDOM9834. You may also submit essays
via postal service mail, preferably on disk (MS-DOS ASCII
plain text).
All contestants will receive a complimentary copy of the
"Project II" publication in which the winning essay shall
be published. The author of the winning essay will
assign copyright for his or her essay to The Wisdom
Society, and will be paid within 10 days of publication.
CLOSING
The Wisdom Society is a non-profit public benefit
corporation whose programs are wholly funded by grants and
gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations, and
by membership support at several levels.
Essay inquiries should be addressed to The Wisdom Society at
the above mentioned e-mail addresses, or by phone (619)
931-9834.
A no cost membership in The Wisdom Society can
be obtained by sending a brief note requesting trial
membership to:
The Wisdom Society
P.O. Box 4126
San Marcos, CA 92069
This notice may be reposted freely.
Ben Gilberti
Executive Director
The Wisdom Society
