About Socrates

The Aspen Institute Socrates Program provides a forum for emerging leaders (approximately ages 28-45) from various professions to convene and explore contemporary issues through expert-moderated dialogue. Socrates also provides the opportunity for participants to enter into a diverse professional network, and into the broader range of the Aspen Institute's programs.

Socrates seminars enable participants to explore current, pressing leadership challenges. Discussions are built around contemporary texts, and are led by expert moderators who engage and encourage participants to share their views. Seminars are designed to be values-based Socratic explorations to facilitate an exchange of ideas. At the core of Socrates is a remarkable group of emerging and recognized leaders including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, representatives of government, international, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, academics and journalists. Participants are provided ample time for interaction, relationship-building and outdoor activities outside the seminars.

Socrates programs include: weekend-long seminars in Aspen (one in the winter and one in the summer); day-long salons in major U.S. cities including New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; and custom seminars which include the Senate Socrates seminars at the Institute's Wye River campus in Queenstown, Maryland. Past seminars topics include the US economy, bioethics, energy security, technology and privacy, the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan, religious fundamentalism, education innovation, globalization, health reform, China and America, sports and society, green investing, immigration, and sustainable communities.