How long have you been teaching?
At USM since 1968, so just about 40 years. When I came I was the only member of the department – we now have eight people, plus some part-timers, and we’re a pretty robust department.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching?
Convincing students that questions are more important than answers, and that each answer should lead to a question. Answers make the world less interesting than questions.
Who is your favorite philosopher?
William James (1842-1910), who’s not only a well-known philosopher, he’s the father of American psychology.
Do you tend to favor modern philosophers more than the ancients?
No, I actually teach ancient philosophy, and I’ve taught it since I came, so it still remains one of my favorite subjects. I’m very much indebted to people like Socrates and Plato. I think that many of the issues that arise in Plato still have relevance today.
Do you agree with him about poetry?
Initially Plato says things like “philosophy is right and poetry is wrong” but Plato himself was very much a poet. So I conclude from that that for Plato there’s good and bad poetry, and good poetry doesn’t pretend to be more than it is.
In some ways I think there are close affinities between the philosopher and the poet. I think there’s something ironic in the fact that Plato himself is a very poetic philosopher. And when push comes to shove, he’s intent to turn to allegories and metaphors to get at the essence of reality.
Were you a philosophy major as an undergrad?
No, I was a Russian major, Russian and Soviet studies. I was doing something supposedly practical. Then I took an intro to philosophy class and the instructor said, “I don’t have the answers, but I have interesting questions” and I became hooked, or bewitched.
Did people ever ask you why you’re doing this?
Yes, it’s generally a good way to stop a conversation – “what do you do?” “I do philosophy.”
Generally it gets turned into “oh, psychology?” or silence. But I get to read great things by great people.
What would you say to students who are studying what they love, and getting the same questions?
It’s important, because the issues that you’ll have to deal with have been dealt with by some of the great philosophers.
It’s a kind of dress rehearsal. It’s a way to express yourself logically and succinctly, and not to be taken aback by issues you’re going to have to face anyhow.
For example, one of the courses I teach is “Death and Dying,” which I’ve done for about 20 years, which is a humbling experience. It’s one that I can’t say I enjoy necessarily, but it’s good to do, because sooner or later everyone is going to have to deal with it.