After I was not too long ago invited to volunteer as a Sequence Editor for the American Philosophical Affiliation, I didn’t query whether or not I’ve the correct background or schooling, however reasonably requested “When can I first help these embarking on their graduate path?” Whereas my undergraduate is a B.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College (Daytona Seaside) and my Grasp’s is at the moment an M.A. in Worldwide Relations, my want to each enhance myself and others with literature has all the time been current. Working as a author, tutor, and later editor for technical papers, corresponding to aerospace designs, I developed a ardour for serving to these not solely refine their concepts however for his or her concepts to achieve a much bigger viewers. Previously, working with each English audio system and Non-Native audio system actually opened my perspective on how totally different folks could method a writing immediate. I’d say that presently my imaginative and prescient for the Graduate Scholar Reflection Sequence is to help and have a proactive function within the presentation of posts to assist present college students voice their experiences inside their research of philosophies. By serving to graduate college students as a collection editor, I consider my imaginative and prescient will assist these at the moment taking graduate philosophy lessons and people aspiring to pursue philosophy inside a graduate setting. Whereas I shouldn’t have an undergraduate or graduate diploma in philosophy, I perceive the significance of supplying a platform to new voices within the area of this examine.
My information and appreciation for philosophy, particularly Taoism and Buddhism, stems from the philosophy/faith programs I took throughout my senior 12 months of school. As I accomplished the STEM credit score necessities for my diploma, I enrolled in each Comparative Religions and later World Philosophy. Particularly World Philosophy, taught by an eccentric professor who suggested us “to not suppose like engineers,” this course actually opened my eyes to one thing I used to be not conscious of. I’ve learn the Tao Te Ching for leisure, nevertheless it wasn’t till my spring semester of senior 12 months that we took a more in-depth take a look at what the e-book was saying and the way we might apply that to on a regular basis life. Most of my philosophy information was Western targeted, as is way liberal arts schooling for a STEM college, however the classes from Lao Tzu, Zhuangzi, and Lie Yukou weren’t solely refreshing however guiding. Whereas I by no means took a deep dive into Western classics corresponding to Plato or Socrates, the Jap ideas of Wu-Wei and different “forcelessness” axioms excited me. Trendy Jap philosophers and their concepts, corresponding to Alan Watts and pursuing a life the place cash isn’t any object, additionally helped me once I was going by private struggles. Whereas my grasp’s diploma doesn’t lengthen to the identical attain of philosophical discourse as knowledgeable diploma, there are components of overlap between a rustic’s overseas coverage and the way they perceive the world. My grasp’s thesis will probably be on the cybersecurity of satellites and whereas that doesn’t contain philosophy immediately, how a rustic will devise its techniques, methods, and procedures does have some origination of how they understand the world.
As I at the moment work as an Intelligence Analyst across the DC Metro Space, my analysis doesn’t actively make use of classes from philosophers both previous or current. Nevertheless, I believe their views are extremely necessary to not solely acknowledge however to use to on a regular basis life. For these pursuing a grasp’s or Ph.D. within the area of Philosophy, I love the need and drive for a craft that’s multifaceted and far more than goal equations. In my profession area, it will be important to not fall into the entice of groupthink, as falling into an mental monoculture typically warps and tarnishes an intelligence product. I’ve all the time believed it’s necessary to have a steadiness in life, whether or not or not it’s yin and yang or appreciating each the humanities and the sciences. Everybody’s journey in philosophy is totally different and a few could obtain their masters and pursue different paths or decide to the complete Ph.D. and stay in academia. By serving to these partake in a journey by their very own philosophical discovery, I look ahead to serving to these each step of the way in which. By working as a Sequence Editor and speaking with graduate philosophy college students, I look ahead to working with all backgrounds and views inside a dynamic area.
Mark Corson
Mark Corson works as an Intelligence Analyst throughout the DMV Space specializing in alicious cyber actors, chaos concept, and quantum computing concept. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College with a level in Aeronautics with a focus in Atmospheric Physics. His curiosity in Philosophy, particularly Jap colleges of thought corresponding to Taoism and Buddhism, stemmed from philosophy lessons from his senior 12 months of school that proved to be his favourite programs all through the 4 years. His hobbies embody mountain climbing, visiting outdated e-book shops, and gathering vinyl data.
