Here’s an interesting article on a yearly testing ritual that graduating high school students in France must perform. It’s called Bac Philo. Bac Philo is a four hour test in which students must apply philosophical thinking to big life-questions. Every graduating student goes through this rite of passage, sort of like a philosophical Hunger Games (sans the killing your opponent part).

Here are the types of questions one may find on the test:

  • Is a work of art always meaningful?
  • Am I what my past has made of me?

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In a world where reflection is often seen as a luxury, maybe this is a good reminder that deep thinking still matters.