Applications are open! This program is FREE for undergraduates and spots fill quickly.
CV and transcript are required during application process. Questions? Reach out to our program coordinator, Elizabeth Levinson.
PPEL Summer School
June 3rd-6th, 2025
at the University of San Diego
Exploring Society’s Challenges: The PPEL Undergraduate Summer School
The Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law (PPEL) Undergraduate Summer School features a curriculum focusing on the practical problems of organizing and running human society. The summer school is supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation #62965. Registration, meals and student housing is FREE.
- Students address questions about the nature of citizenship and the role individuals play in making critical decisions facing society.
- Emphasis is placed on an overview of how markets work and under what conditions they create wealth and prosperity, including consideration of when markets fail to function well.
- The program also explores the role of political institutions in structuring market exchange and allocating resources.
The summer school strengthens and refines students’ critical thinking skills, cultivating intellectual humility that enables them to learn from others, including those they disagree with. Topics that will be addressed include:
- The nature and justification of property rights.
- The use of market prices in coordinating economic activity.
- How trust and reciprocity facilitate personal exchange.
- The moral dimensions of cost-benefit analysis, exploitation, and repugnant transactions.
Associated Schools
A collaboration with the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom and the Department of Political Economy and Moral Science (PEMS) at the University of Arizona, the University of San Diego’s Center for Ethics, Economics, & Public Policy, and Chapman University’s Smith Institute for Political Economy & Philosophy.
Why Attend?
- Critical Thinking & Intellectual Humility: Learn to analyze complex societal issues while embracing diverse viewpoints.
- Real-World Application: Explore the nature of citizenship, market dynamics, and political institutions’ impact on resource allocation.
- Engaging Curriculum: Topics include:
- The justification of property rights
- The role of market prices in economic coordination
- How trust and reciprocity shape personal exchange
- Moral dimensions of cost-benefit analysis, exploitation, and repugnant transactions
Who Should Apply?
Are you curious about the forces shaping society? Ready to engage with complex ideas in politics, economics, and law?
The PPEL Undergraduate Summer School is for motivated students entering their second year or higher who want to:
- Dive into philosophy, political theory, economics, and law
- Strengthen critical thinking and analytical skills
- Engage with diverse perspectives and rigorous discussions
- Become informed leaders who contribute meaningfully to society
Join a community of curious, driven students from across the nation. Apply now!
Program Highlights
- FREE Registration, Meals, and Housing – Thanks to the John Templeton Foundation’s generous support (Grant #62965)
- Collaborative Learning Environment: Learn alongside peers from universities across the nation.
- Multi-Disciplinary Approach: Gain insights from faculty at:
- University of Arizona – Center for the Philosophy of Freedom & Department of Political Economy and Moral Science (PEMS)
- University of San Diego – Center for Ethics, Economics, & Public Policy
- Chapman University – Smith Institute for Political Economy & Philosophy
- The plenary speaker this year will be Cara Nine
Don’t let financial barriers stand between you and your goals
Thanks to the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation, registration, housing, and meals are free for students entering their second year or higher.
Our Sponsor: The John Templeton Foundation
The PPEL Undergraduate Summer School is made possible through the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation (Grant #62965). Renowned for fostering exploration of life’s biggest questions, the Foundation funds innovative programs that address the intersections of philosophy, economics, and society.
Their commitment to advancing critical thinking and intellectual humility aligns perfectly with the goals of the summer school. By supporting this program, the Foundation enables students to engage with complex ideas, explore diverse perspectives, and develop the skills necessary to tackle the pressing challenges of modern society.
We are deeply grateful for the John Templeton Foundation’s partnership in cultivating the next generation of thinkers and leaders. Their vision and support make this transformative educational experience possible.
”This program was such a formative experience … because I was exposed to so many different perspectives along the way, This opportunity strengthened my abilities in my major and allowed me to gain foundational knowledge on a number of new PPE topics that I had yet to be exposed to.
Phoebe ScarboroughVirginia Tech University PPE major
