The Dialectic: Philosophy Summer Camp

Step into college life for a week at Arizona State University and explore big questions that shape our world. This immersive on-campus experience invites high school students to engage with philosophy, ethics and civic life alongside peers and ASU scholars. Together, you will examine how to build stronger communities through curiosity, empathy and thoughtful dialogue.

Our communities are in trouble. Differences of opinion (especially those having to do with politics) start fights between family members, friends and neighbors. Political polarization is making it increasingly hard to see the good in people who aren’t on “the same side” (whatever side that is). Tackling this head on, our focus this week will be on cultivating civic virtues — such as openmindedness, humility and empathy — skills that we need to get through polarizing times.

Some guiding questions that we will be engaging:

• What are civic virtues? Why do we want them?

   

• Is it always important to be right?
• How can we avoid echo chambers?
• What values hold up our community? Our country?
• How can we develop compassion, and work with people who disagree with us? 
     

For one week, you are a college student, working with ASU’s graduate students, to investigate these questions — coming to campus in the morning and leaving in the evening. You will get to meet a handful of ASU professors as they come in to give guest lectures. We will be drawing from Ethics, Aesthetics, Political Philosophy, and Philosophy of Wellbeing. In the meantime, you’re hanging out with your peers that want to look at life a little more carefully. You are part of an intellectual community. You’re running around campus, eating in dining halls, peeking into the life of a college student.

Co-sponsored by the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies and the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics.

The Dialectic is open to any student that was in high school (9th-12th grade) during the 2025-2026 school year or is just graduating 8th grade.

Tuition for The Dialectic is $400. Tuition covers the cost of the camp including instruction, lunches, materials and facilities.

Payment in full is due upon registration. While registering, please review the Refund/Cancellation policy on the payment confirmation page before finalizing submission.

For students with financial need, SHPRS awards a small number of need-based scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on need and application answers. If you accept a scholarship, you are making a commitment to arrive on time and to participate fully in the camp. To request a scholarship please contact Angela Barnes Rodriguez BEFORE you fill out the registration.