John Locke Global Essay Prize 2025 Law Prompts Breakdown
The John Locke Institute has just released the prompts for their international essay writing competitions for high school students. They have released three prompts for each of the following categories, philosophy, politics, economics, history, law, psychology, and theology. Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration).
To be eligible to compete, one's 19th birthday must fall after June 30th, 2025. Given this easily satisfied requirement for high school students the world over, many compete in this competition, making it incredibly competitive.
The John Locke Competition is one of the most prestigious essay writing competitions for high school students. It ranks alongside the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards as a humanities extracurricular activity that would impress admissions officers. Placing competitively in this competition could be what convinces an admissions officer at an elite university to admit an applicant.
One major difference between the John Locke competition and the Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards is that it has a right-wing, instead of a left-wing focus. Past winning essays have argued for fringe ideas like anarcho-capitalism. The John Locke Institute is committed to upholding the principles of classical liberalism espoused by John Locke, the founder of liberalism. Being liberal in Europe has a different connotation than it does in the U.S. While liberalism in the U.S. is associated with center-left politics like the Democratic Party, in Europe, it denotes what Americans would call conservatives, who believe in laissez-faire economic policies and upholding individual freedom to the point that it might enable individuals to infringe on the liberties of others, such as individuals having the right to deny service to people at their place of business due to their sexual orientation.
Despite the competition's right-wing focus, and the well-known left-wing bias of academics and admissions officers, high school students can place competitively without arguing for positions that would decrease their likability with a left-wing audience when applying to college.
We have extensive experience guiding applicants through this competition and are proud to have students who received at least a commendation from the judges. In this article, we will outline the three law questions they ask and provide resources, along with cliff notes for these resources, to help start one's journey towards drafting compelling answers to these questions.
Law Q1:
What injury should one person be permitted to inflict on another in the defence of private property?
Historical Sources
John Locke, "Second Treatise of Government" (1689)
Chapters 2 and 5 are particularly relevant
Locke argues that property rights derive from labor mixing with resources
Discusses the right to defend property as an extension of natural rights
Establishes proportionality in defense - the response should be proportional to the threat
Thomas Hobbes, "Leviathan" (1651)
Presents the state of nature as a "war of all against all"
Property rights exist only under a sovereign power
Provides contrast to Locke's more optimistic view of natural rights
Hugo Grotius, "On the Law of War and Peace" (1625)
Early work on just war theory with principles applicable to individual defense
Discusses proportionality in self-defense
Influenced Locke's thinking on natural law
Samuel Pufendorf, "On the Duty of Man and Citizen" (1673)
Examines natural law and property rights
Discusses limits of defensive force
Influenced Locke's conception of natural rights
Immanuel Kant, "The Metaphysics of Morals" (1797)
Presents a rights-based approach to property
Discusses the moral limits of defense
Offers a deontological perspective on property rights
Contemporary Sources
Robert Nozick, "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" (1974)
Modern libertarian defense of property rights
Discusses the "Lockean proviso" and entitlement theory
Examines minimal state and property protection
Judith Thomson, "Self-Defense and Rights" (1991)
Examines the moral foundations of self-defense
Discusses proportionality and rights violations
Considers when lethal force is justified
Jeremy Waldron, "The Right to Private Property" (1988)
Critical examination of property rights
Discusses Locke's labor theory and its limitations
Addresses tensions between property rights and other values
Jeff McMahan, "The Ethics of Killing: Problems at the Margins of Life" (2002)
Discusses liability to defensive harm
Examines proportionality in self-defense
Considers culpability and threat
David Rodin, "War and Self-Defense" (2002)
Though focused on international conflict, provides relevant framework for individual defense
Analyzes justification for defensive force
Examines proportionality
Andrew Ashworth, "Self-Defence and the Right to Life" (1975)
Examines legal dimensions of self-defense
Discusses Castle Doctrine and property defense
Addresses proportionality requirements
Suzanne Uniacke, "Permissible Killing: The Self-Defence Justification of Homicide" (1994)
Examines when killing in self-defense is justified
Addresses property defense as extension of self-defense
Discusses moral and legal perspectives
Jonathan Quong, "Killing in Self-Defense" (2009)
Distinguishes between different theoretical approaches to self-defense
Examines liability to defensive harm
Addresses proportionality in property defense
Arthur Ripstein, "Force and Freedom: Kant's Legal and Political Philosophy" (2009)
Modern interpretation of Kantian property theory
Discusses rights of exclusion and enforcement
Examines the moral status of property
John Simmons, "The Lockean Theory of Rights" (1992)
Comprehensive analysis of Locke's rights theory
Examines Locke's view on property and its defense
Discusses limitations and proportionality
Key Questions and Issues to Address
Proportionality
What level of force is proportionate to different property threats?
Does the value of property impact permissible defensive force?
Can lethal force ever be justified solely for property defense?
Moral Status of Property
What is the moral foundation of property rights?
How do property rights relate to other natural rights?
Is Locke's labor theory adequate for modern property issues?
Necessity
When is force necessary for property defense?
What alternatives must be exhausted before force is justified?
How does the availability of legal remedies affect permissible defensive action?
Culpability and Threat
Does the intent of the property violator matter?
How does the nature of the threat affect permissible responses?
Should defense against culpable aggressors differ from defense against innocent threats?
Legal vs. Moral Rights
How do legal doctrines like Castle Doctrine relate to moral rights?
Where do moral and legal frameworks diverge?
How should law codify natural rights to property defense?
Contextual Factors
Do circumstances of scarcity or abundance affect permissible defense?
How do social and economic contexts impact property rights?
Should defense rights vary based on the defender's or aggressor's circumstances?
Types of Property
Should defense rights differ for different property types (e.g., land, personal possessions, intellectual property)?
How does the function of property (survival needs vs. luxury) affect permissible defense?
Does the replaceability of property matter?
Historical Evolution
How have conceptions of property defense evolved since Locke?
How do modern property relations differ from those in Locke's time?
Are Lockean principles adaptable to contemporary property issues?
Law Q2:
“Use every man after his desert, and who should ’scape whipping?” Should the law treat offenders better than they deserve?
Historical Resources
John Locke - "Second Treatise of Government" (1689)
Locke argues that punishment should be proportionate to the crime
Explores the concept of natural rights and the role of government in protecting those rights
Discusses how punishment should serve three purposes: reparation, deterrence, and reformation
Key chapters to focus on: Chapter 2 (State of Nature) and Chapter 7 (Political Society)
John Locke - "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" (1689)
Examines human knowledge, identity, and moral reasoning
Explores how we form ideas of right and wrong
Relevant sections on moral accountability and personal identity in Book II
Cesare Beccaria - "On Crimes and Punishments" (1764)
Groundbreaking work advocating for criminal justice reform
Argues against cruel punishments and for proportionality in sentencing
Influenced by Locke's ideas on natural rights and social contract
William Shakespeare - "Hamlet" (ca. 1600)
Source of your essay question quote (Act 2, Scene 2)
Hamlet speaks these lines when discussing how to treat the actors
Reflects on universal human fallibility and the question of mercy vs. justice
Immanuel Kant - "Metaphysics of Morals" (1797)
Presents retributivist theory of punishment
Argues for strict proportionality between crime and punishment
Contrasts with more utilitarian or rehabilitative approaches
Jeremy Bentham - "An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation" (1789)
Foundation of utilitarian approach to punishment
Argues the purpose of law should be to maximize happiness and minimize suffering
Provides contrast to Locke's natural rights framework
Contemporary Resources
Michael Sandel - "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" (2009)
Accessible exploration of different theories of justice
Compares Kantian, utilitarian, and virtue-based approaches
Includes discussions of desert, mercy, and proportionality
Martha Nussbaum - "Anger and Forgiveness" (2016)
Examines the role of retribution and forgiveness in justice
Questions whether anger and the desire to punish serve constructive purposes
Offers perspective on mercy and restorative approaches
R.A. Duff - "Punishment, Communication, and Community" (2001)
Develops communicative theory of punishment
Argues punishment should communicate moral censure while respecting offenders as moral agents
Balances retributive and rehabilitative concerns
Michelle Alexander - "The New Jim Crow" (2010)
Examines mass incarceration and racial disparities in criminal justice
Questions whether current system truly delivers deserved punishments
Provides contemporary context for discussing proportionality
John Braithwaite - "Restorative Justice and Responsive Regulation" (2002)
Outlines theory and practice of restorative justice
Focuses on repairing harm rather than punishing wrongdoing
Offers alternative to desert-based approaches
Douglas Husak - "Overcriminalization" (2008)
Examines the expansion of criminal law and proportionality concerns
Questions whether we criminalize too much conduct
Relevant for discussing what truly "deserves" punishment
Key Issues to Address
Defining "Desert"
What does it mean to deserve punishment?
Who determines what is deserved?
How do we measure desert - by harm caused, moral culpability, or something else?
Purposes of Punishment
Retribution: Punishment as what offenders deserve
Deterrence: Punishment to prevent future crimes
Rehabilitation: Punishment to reform offenders
Restoration: Punishment to heal harm to victims and community
How do these purposes align with or conflict with desert?
The Shakespearean Insight
The quote suggests universal human fallibility
If everyone deserves punishment for something, what implications does this have?
Does acknowledging our own fallibility require mercy toward others?
Locke's Framework
How does Locke's theory of natural rights inform what people deserve?
What limitations does Locke place on punishment?
How does Locke balance retribution with other aims?
Justice vs. Mercy
Is treating people "better than they deserve" an act of mercy or injustice?
Does justice require giving exactly what is deserved?
Can a system incorporate both strict desert and mercy?
Practical Considerations
Limited resources for administering justice
Imperfect knowledge about culpability
Social contexts of crime
Balancing individual desert with societal needs
Equality and Fairness
Treating similar cases similarly
Addressing systemic biases
Whether equal treatment means identical punishment
Dignity and Humanity
Locke's emphasis on natural rights and human dignity
Whether certain punishments violate human dignity regardless of desert
The offender as both wrongdoer and rights-bearer
Law Q3:
Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?
In the view of Cosmic College Consulting, yes. Sorry. I couldn’t resist chiming in.
John Locke Works
Second Treatise of Government (1689)
Locke's analysis of political power, legitimate authority, and natural rights
Particularly relevant sections on war and conquest (Chapters 3 and 16)
Explores when rulers lose legitimacy through violation of natural rights
Establishes framework for understanding tyranny and legitimate resistance
A Letter Concerning Toleration (1689)
Examines limits of state authority and protection of individual rights
Useful for discussing international norms and state responsibilities
Historical Resources on War Crimes
The Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907)
First formal statements of laws of war in international law
Established principles for conduct during warfare and protection of civilians
Geneva Conventions (1949) and Additional Protocols (1977)
Cornerstone of international humanitarian law
Defines war crimes and protections for civilians and prisoners
Establishes standards for judging wartime conduct
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998)
Established the ICC and defined modern war crimes, crimes against humanity
Provides legal framework for prosecution of war criminals
Outlines specific acts that constitute war crimes
Contemporary Resources on Putin's Actions
Human Rights Watch Reports on Ukraine (2022-2024)
Documentation of alleged violations of laws of war in Ukraine
Eyewitness accounts and evidence collection
Analysis of targeting of civilian infrastructure
UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine Reports
Independent investigation into alleged war crimes
Documentation of evidence and legal analysis
Preliminary assessments of responsibility
"Putin's War: The Battle for Ukraine and the New World Order" by Mark Galeotti
Analysis of strategic decisions and command structure
Discussion of responsibility for military actions
Context for understanding chain of command issues
"The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin" by Steven Lee Myers
Biography providing context on Putin's leadership style
Background on centralization of power in Russia
Useful for command responsibility arguments
ICC Prosecutor's Statements on Ukraine Investigation
Legal framework being applied to the Ukraine situation
Preliminary findings and areas of investigation
Procedural status of potential cases
"Just and Unjust Wars" by Michael Walzer
Modern philosophical framework for evaluating wartime ethics
Builds on tradition including Locke's thinking
Addresses moral versus legal culpability in warfare
Resources on Russian Military Structure
"Russian Military Reform: From Serdyukov to Shoigu" (RAND Corporation)
Analysis of command structure and decision-making
Relevant for command responsibility arguments
Outlines Putin's role in military affairs
Source Cliff Notes
Second Treatise of Government (Locke): Locke argues that governments exist by consent of the governed to protect natural rights. When rulers actively violate these rights, they place themselves in a "state of war" with their people. Locke discusses when force is justified against tyranny and emphasizes that rulers who wage unjust wars become aggressors against humanity. These principles later influenced international humanitarian law.
Geneva Conventions: The foundation of modern war crimes law, these treaties define protected persons and prohibited actions during armed conflict. They prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians, torture, taking of hostages, and collective punishment. The Additional Protocols further restrict methods of warfare and strengthen civilian protections.
Rome Statute: This treaty established the International Criminal Court and codified war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. It defines command responsibility, whereby military commanders and civilian leaders can be held responsible for crimes committed by forces under their effective control if they knew or should have known about the crimes and failed to prevent or punish them.
Human Rights Watch Reports: These reports document alleged violations in Ukraine including indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas, use of cluster munitions in populated areas, torture of prisoners, and forced deportations. They include photographic evidence, satellite imagery, witness testimonies, and analysis of weapons used.
UN Commission of Inquiry: This independent body has documented patterns of summary executions, sexual violence, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. Their reports analyze evidence under international humanitarian law standards and assess potential violations.
ICC Prosecutor's Statements: The ICC has opened investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. The Prosecutor has issued arrest warrants for some Russian officials related to the deportation of Ukrainian children. These statements outline their legal approach and progress of investigations.
"Just and Unjust Wars" (Walzer): This influential work examines moral questions of warfare beyond strict legality. Walzer explores philosophical traditions including Locke's work, addressing questions of necessity, proportionality, and responsibility. The book provides a framework for moral judgment that complements legal analysis.
Key Questions to Address
Legal Framework
Which legal standards should apply? (Geneva Conventions, ICC Statute)
Is the Russian-Ukrainian conflict an international armed conflict under law?
What constitutes a war crime versus a crime against humanity?
Evidence Assessment
What credible evidence exists of violations?
How reliable are various sources of information?
What patterns of conduct can be established?
Command Responsibility
What is Putin's role in the military chain of command?
What knowledge did Putin have of alleged violations?
Did he take measures to prevent or punish violations?
Intent and Policy
Were civilian targets deliberately chosen or incidental?
Do documented actions reflect isolated incidents or systematic policy?
Can specific orders from leadership be established?
Philosophical Dimensions
How do Locke's concepts of natural rights apply to modern warfare?
What is the relationship between moral and legal culpability?
How does Locke's thinking on tyranny apply to international relations?
Procedural Considerations
What forums have jurisdiction over potential crimes?
What practical obstacles exist to prosecution?
How should head-of-state immunity be considered?
Historical Context
How do Putin's actions compare to historical cases where leaders were deemed war criminals?
What precedents exist in international law?
Presumption of Innocence
How should principles of fair trial be balanced with available evidence?
What counter-arguments exist to allegations?
If you are overwhelmed by the number of sources and complexity of answering these questions, we understand. English teachers don't prepare high school students to tackle such formidable challenges in the humanities. But we do. Schedule a free consultation with a John Locke Essay Writing Competition expert today and learn how to unpack all of these sources to write a coherent and logically sound 2000 word essay which will earn you a competitive placing in this competition and impress admission officers.
