2024 Winner and Runner-up

In 2024, our quote for interpretation was;

“Truth will be Truth tho’ it sometimes prove[s]… distasteful.” A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain. (1725).

Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. The competition is exclusively for young writers, aged 18-25, with a first prize of £750, and a second prize of £500.

We received some excellent entries to our 2024 Prize and we are proud to announce the names of the two young writers that were voted as the winner and runner-up by our team of judges;

WINNER: Aditi Pillai

Aditi is 22 and currently undertaking an MSc in Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. 

Judges comments:

Our judges agreed unanimously that Pillai’s work was “confident, well written and convincing” in it’s engaging exploration of AI and its growing presence in modern society. Rory Sutherland was particularly struck by the twist ending.

RUNNER-UP: Matthew Fitzgerald

Matthew is 23 and graduated from the Open University in 2023 with a First Class Honours degree in English Literature and Philosophy. He now works full-time as a copywriter and is an aspiring journalist.

Judges comments:

The judges were impressed by Fitzgerald’s comparison between Franklin’s time and our world today, highlighting that his work was well researched, written and argued. Lord Black was especially impressed by Fitzgerald’s ability to expertly condense a broad philosophical and historical argument considering the strict word limit of the competition.

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If you would like to read their entries for the 2024 Prize, please click on their names to view their work.

We would like to congratulate those on our shortlist as well as everyone who entered this year’s Prize.