June 5th–8th, 2023
at the University of San Diego

PPEL Overview

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 are free.

Program Highlights

Topics Addressed

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
- Repugnant transactions

Students Explored

The nature of citizenship and the role individuals play in making critical decisions facing society
How markets function and the conditions under which they create wealth and prosperity
When and why markets sometimes fail
The role of political institutions in structuring market exchange and allocating resources
Strengthening critical thinking skills and cultivating intellectual humility to engage with diverse perspectives
Critical thinking through small-group seminars and faculty engagement

Program Highlights

FREE Registration, Meals, and Housing
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

2023 PPEL Summer School Recap
June 5–8, 2023 | University of San Diego

The 2023 Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law (PPEL) Undergraduate Summer School was hosted at the University of San Diego. The event welcomed 30 undergraduates from 20 different universities for a four-day immersive program focused on key philosophical and practical questions about society, governance, and exchange.