The James Hemming essay prize is open to any student at a UK school or college studying for AS or A2 levels or qualifications at the same level (eg intermediate 1, intermediate 2, higher, advanced higher etc) who is 19 or under on 1st April 2012.

The 2012 essay question is:

No moral system can rest solely on authority. It can never be sufficient justification for performing any action that someone commands it. (A J Ayer, 1910-1989) Discuss.

 Essays entered for the competition should be no more than 1,500 words including footnotes but not including references, and any sources must be referenced.  Essays must be the original work of the entrant and the James Hemming Essay Prize committee reserves first publication rights for winning essays.

In the event of no essay meeting an adequate standard, the judges reserves the right not to award any or all of the prizes.

The essay must be accompanied by a completed entry form [download here] and posted to:

James Hemming Essay Prize, 1 Gower Street, London WC1E 6HD

by 1st April 2012.