Summer Honors Symposium
About the Program
The Summer Honors Symposium brings together a community of students and scholars to discuss a theme relevant to the political, ethical, or economic dimension of human liberty.
2024 Symposium Details
The theme of our most recent symposium is expressed by its title: The Theory and Practice of Happiness. During three leisurely days in early summer, our student fellows discussed readings on happiness as seen from the point of view of philosophy and public policy. The event will took place at a secluded luxury resort in Dripping Springs, TX, on August 9 – 12.
They began with Aristotle, who famously defined happiness as the activity of soul in accord with virtue. Moving from classical to modern thought, our fellows studied Montaigne, who counseled moderation through variation, as opposed to focusing on any one human good, as the key to leading a happy, fulfilling life. Fellows capped off their philosophical readings with Tocqueville, who analyzed the restlessness of soul that so characterized American democracy, and democracy as such, for both good and ill.
Tocqueville, who was consistently practical in this thinking, served as a bridge to the symposium’s next set of readings and discussions: happiness as seen from the point of view of public policy. Community and individualism, dynamism and stagnation, as well as the current state and prospects of social capital in the United States, were the primary but by no means only topics covered in this portion of the symposium. Guided by some of the best scholars in their field, our fellows explored these topics by reading selections from the works, among others, of Wilhelm Röpke, Robert Nisbet, and Robert Putnam.
Recap: SCL Summer Honors Symposium 2024 on “Happiness”
Recap: SCL Summer Honors Symposium 2023 on “Friendship”
Application Dates and Requirements
Applications for the Summer Honors Symposium are now closed.
Admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis until the symposium cohort has been selected. Spots are limited and typically fill by end of February.
You must be an undergraduate student with a GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of your application.
Graduating seniors may apply.
Students who applied to last year’s Summer Honors Symposium may reapply to the program this year.
Students may apply to both the Summer Honors Symposium and the Society of Fellows.
Please address inquiries to:
Antonio Sosa
Associate Director
The School of Civic Leadership
University of Texas at Austin
Email: antonio.sosa@austin.utexas.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
