Drexel University's Week of Writing Event 2: Philosophy and/as Literature

The second event at Drexel's 2012 Week of Writing was the first of, hopefully many to come, events during the week focused on philosophy. Philosophy and Literature have always had a significant connection, the subject this particular panel aimed to address. Drexel University invited members of the philosophy department at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey to present their thoughts on philosophy and literature and serve as panelists for the event.
   
       The first speaker, Melanie McLeod, focused her presentation on a basic introduction to philosophy, and the importance of critical thinking. Criticism, fostered by critical thinking, was defined in not one, but two categories; private face and public face. Private face refers specifically to the relationship between thought and reasoning, whereas public face boasts the relationship between language and reasoning. With this in mind, Ms. McLeod made the excellent point that literature acts as a display of both. The author first takes part in private face criticism, through the ideas the writer determines to explore through the literary work (clearly a concept that is open to critical though, such as man's selfish nature is a prerequisite.) The author then participates in public face through the use of language in written word, conveying his thoughts to others, who in turn are receptive and as a result likely participate in their own private face on the author's ideas. Therefore, literature promotes critical thinking.  An excellent defense against those pesky people who fail to see the point in literary study or production. (hah!)
        After the conclusion of Ms. McLeod's presentation Peter Hagen, another guest speaker from Stockton, began his. Mr. Hagen's presentation was excellent, and would be of keen interest,(I think) to writers and literature enthusiasts of all types. The presentation revolved around Mr. Hagen's own experience as a college advisor, and his efforts to utilize his degree and knowledge in literature to support his work in aiding students. He made point that all students, and on a larger scale, all people, are akin to unfinished texts, to be worked on and written. Mr. Hagen also professed that he had in fact seen some degree of manifestation of famous fictional characters, such as hamlet, in his clients. What I believe Mr. Hagen advocated with his speech was essentially the importance of literature, and it's accessibility for application to work and world philosophies. In addition, Mr. Hagen's sentiments served as a keen reminder to myself that a huge portion of writing has to do with observance. As writers we examine, and as Ms. McLeod stated, criticize the world around us. We take our observations in from our reality and utilize them, criticize them, and relay them.
       Both presentations were excellently executed, and provided a healthy dosage of insight. Dr. Roger Jackson was to present next, unfortunately I had to attend to other duties and could not remain for his presentation. If the previous speakers were any indication, however, I'm sure he delivered interesting ideas with the best of eloquence.

This concludes the coverage of Drexel University's Week of Writing 2012 events for today, 5/21/12. The next post on the Week of Writing shall be published on 5/22/12.