Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
AI, Childhood, and the Future of Human Development
Artificial intelligence is not just transforming our industries and institutions — it’s shaping how our children learn, play, and grow. From AI-powered toys that respond with emotional “intelligence”, to chatbots offering homework help and mental health support, today’s youth are the first to grow up in an AI-saturated world.
The implications are profound — and still unfolding. Tech companies are racing to capture this next-generation market, with tools like OpenAI-powered Barbies and personalized AI tutors. Kids are becoming emotionally attached to their bots and, in some rare cases, ending their lives based on their “interactions”. Some argue these innovations can democratize learning, personalize education, and provide support where human systems fall short. Others warn of developmental risks, premature emotional outsourcing, and the commodification of childhood.
This Socrates seminar invites an exploration of the complex role AI is playing in child development, parenting, and education. Together, we’ll ask:
How do we nurture critical thinking, empathy, and independence in a world of instant AI assistance?
What are the potential benefits of AI in expanding access to learning and mental health support — and what are the risks?
Should there be regulatory frameworks for AI tools targeted at minors?
What responsibilities do educators, technologists, and policymakers have in shaping the digital childhood experience?
As the boundaries between human and machine blur, we’ll confront a fundamental question: What does it mean to raise — and be — human in the age of AI?
Moderator: Stephen Balkam is the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an international, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. FOSI’s mission is to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes the top thinkers and practitioners in government, industry and the nonprofit sectors to collaborate and innovate and to create a “culture of responsibility” in the online world.
Can You Lead If You’re Afraid To Fail?
Leadership, FAIlure, and Taking Risks
Are we losing one of our most essential tools for progress—the freedom to fail?
Throughout history, mistakes have been the raw material of growth, innovation, and resilience. From the legendary “fail fast” culture of Silicon Valley—where companies were born from pivots and early missteps—to high-stakes blunders on the battlefield that rewrote military strategy, or classroom experiments that sparked new pedagogical methods, failure has always been a crucible for leadership and learning.
Yet today, our digital footprints are indelible. A single error—whether a tweet, a misjudged campaign, a “wrong opinion,” or a public gaffe—can be captured, scrutinized, and weaponized in real time. Moreover, our tolerance for failure is not evenly distributed. Marginalized groups often face harsher scrutiny, fewer second chances, and more significant professional consequences for mistakes and failure. In an era where cancel culture, public shaming, and algorithm-driven judgment are rampant, many individuals and institutions have begun to err on the side of safety, opting for conformity and risk-aversion over creativity and curiosity. A recent PwC Global Risk Survey found that 70% of executives say their organizations have grown more “risk intolerant” due to concerns about reputational fallout. This shift has deep implications:
What happens to innovation when experimentation feels too risky?
What are we losing as a society when fear of public failure stifles bold thinking?
Are we cultivating leaders who are resilient, or merely risk-averse?
How do we reframe failure as a feature—not a flaw—of progress?
This seminar explores the evolving role of mistakes in our digital, data-driven society—and the urgent need to reclaim failure as a catalyst for learning, not a mark of shame. We’ll dive into how cultural, structural, and technological forces are shaping our tolerance for risk and error, and what it would take to create environments where leaders can experiment, stumble, and grow.
Moderator: Richard Phillips, Jr. has led a distinguished career spanning public service at the Justice Department and U.S. Senate. As CEO and Chairman of Pilot Freight Services, he transformed the company from a family business into a global logistics leader with nearly $1 billion in revenue. Phillips now teaches leadership and ethics at Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, focusing on helping leaders stay grounded in their values. Richard has made too many mistakes—large and small—to count.
Can We Ever Speak Freely Without Consequence?
Disagreement, Civil Discourse, and the Boundaries of Freedom
From the Athenian agora to the digital age, the public square has been both the engine of democratic life and the stage for its breakdowns. For 2,500 years, societies have wrestled with a core dilemma: disagreement is inevitable, but will it strengthen our common life or tear it apart? The canon of dissent stretches across cultures and centuries: Socrates defended the right to question authority, even at the cost of his life; the rabbis of the Talmud preserved dissent as sacred; America’s founders clashed over the Constitution, institutionalizing conflict into checks and balances; and modern thinkers like Mill and Arendt have warned of propaganda’s corrosive power.
Today, the struggle feels immediate again. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the rise of cancel culture, the proliferation of conspiracy theories, and algorithmic outrage reveal how words are punished not only with argument but with silencing, reputational destruction, and sometimes bloodshed. Academia, once devoted to open inquiry, has given way to ideological conformity and protest. Meanwhile, civic illiteracy leaves many without the critical thinking tools to reason across differences. Ideas and opinions have never been easier to broadcast, but the truth has never been harder to define or defend.
Framing Questions:
• When are disagreements constructive, and when are they destructive? • Can institutions channel conflict productively in a polarized age? • Will freedom and truth survive in the digital agora? • And when disagreement turns violent, is it ever a force for justice or only a sign of civic collapse?
This Socrates Seminar traces the perilous path of speech and disagreement across turning points in history. Democracy depends on this fragile balance: the capacity to debate without enmity, to protect speech even when it offends, and to preserve space for difference without collapsing into violence. If we can embrace civil disagreement both as a civic virtue and as a ritual for seeking truth, we can renew not only our discourse but the foundations of our social order.
Moderator: Clea Conner is CEO of Open to Debate, the nation’s leading nonpartisan forum for civil discourse. She has produced hundreds of debates on the most urgent issues of our time, spanning global affairs, technology, culture, law, and economics. Under her leadership, Open to Debate has become a global forum, distributing weekly debates on NPR, YouTube, Bloomberg TV, and RealClear Media as an award-winning podcast and video series.
Clea has convened voices and audiences on some of the world’s most respected stages, including the Aspen Ideas Festival, the Oslo Freedom Forum, and the Council on Foreign Relations. As moderator, Clea brings the perspective of someone who has dedicated her career to creating spaces where people can engage across differences with rigor, respect, and openness, the very qualities that sustain democratic values.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Socrates seminar?
The Socrates Seminar is a collaborative weekend-long event for participants from different fields. Participants contribute their understanding of and reactions to carefully selected readings, with the guidance of moderators who are experts in their sector. This is not a panel discussion, nor is it a tutorial where the experts share their knowledge. The seminars take place on Aspen Meadows Resort campus.
How many seminars can I participate in?
You will register for one seminar of up to 24 participants for the entire weekend. Meals and programming are with the entire group, which includes participants from all three concurrent seminars.
What if my preferred seminar is sold out?
Unfortunately, we cap seminar capacity and we might not be able to accommodate your request. We urge you to register as soon as possible. If you would like to discuss the seminars further, please reach out the Socrates Team directly via email and one of our team members will assist you.
What does tuition cover?
Tuition includes seminar attendance and materials and all meals during the program, which begins at 6pm on Friday evening and ends at 1pm on Monday after lunch.
Where can I stay?
We have a room block at the Aspen Meadows Resort, where the seminars take place, with a negotiated room rate for the duration of the seminar. There are also a range of hotels in Aspen that we can suggest for participants looking to not stay on campus. For those looking to roomshare, we will connect you with other participants looking to share the cost of a room.
Are scholarships available?
Scholarships for tuition assistance are available through the Socrates Program. Apply here. Please note: Scholarships are awarded on a rolling bases. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Can I do a Socrates seminar on a budget?
We offer partial to full scholarships. Please apply here. Scholarships generally cover tuition, which includes all meals, but not travel.
How do I get to Aspen?
Flights into Denver tend to be more economical. If you choose to fly into Denver and are interested in ridesharing, we will connect you with other participants who are driving.
Can I bring a guest?
If you would like to bring a guest to join you for meals, you are welcome to for $600.00. These both can be purchased as add-ons when you register.
What transportation will be provided at the event?
If you are a guest of the Aspen Meadows Resort, they will take care of transportation to and from the airport. If you are staying at an alternative location, we recommend taxis and a free local bus.
The Aspen Meadows offers a complimentary shuttle that runs into Aspen every 30 minutes.
What is the timing of the seminars and programming for the weekend?
To join for the whole experience, you will want to arrive in Aspen by 6pm on Friday and depart after 12pm on Monday. Socrates Summer seminar sessions run from 2pm-6pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 8 am to 12 pm on Monday.
In the morning, until 2pm daily, you are welcome to explore and engage with everything Aspen has to offer. We have partnered with BlazingAdventures to offer discounted ski tickets and a la carte snow excursions.
What is the dress codes for the seminar?
Although we do not require a specific dress code, most people dress business casual and comfortable in the seminar rooms and bring something dressier for the evenings. We recommend that you pack for warmth and comfort in both the Winter and Summer. Please bring sturdy shoes that will allow you to walk through snow.
