Throughout the summer, I have had the pleasure of working on my ARIA project, ‘Translation as Renewal’. Under the supervision of Professor Philip Buckley, I explored a series of articles written by the philosopher Edmund Husserl in 1923-1924. Written for the Japanese journal Kaizo, these articles’ translation and publication into Japanese was never completed. To commemorate the centenary of some of the articles’ original publication, a new translation effort into English and Japanese began. Along with the translation of these articles, I explored the philosophy of translation, and the history of philosophy in Japan. Through my readings and travel to Japan, this project has been a fascinating inter-linguistic, cultural, and philosophical experience.
The prospect of undertaking an ARIA project occurred to me along with my interest in doing academic research. Without previous experience performing formal research, I wanted to explore a topic of my choice and at greater length. Further, I wanted to weave some of my many interests into my love for philosophy, including languages and interculturalism. Thus, I jumped at the opportunity to connect my research with questions concerning identity and cross-cultural interaction. The unique funding opportunity and structure provided by ARIA presented a rich opportunity to explore all of these questions. Eager to perform some philosophical fieldwork, the award funding allowed for a research trip to Japan. There, I had the opportunity to conduct several interviews and visit sites of historical and cultural interest.
Decided with the help of my supervisor, the project was planned to allow me to achieve several personal and academic objectives. For one, I hoped to increase my experience with phenomenology, especially the work of Edmund Husserl. A key figure in the philosophical school of phenomenology, his work was of great interest, particularly given his start as a mathematician. Additionally, I hoped to connect with and learn from the global community of the phenomenologists. In so doing, I could hear from diverse voices in the field, and new approaches to philosophers and their ideas. Finally, I intended to complete my first formal research experience by preparing a final paper detailing my findings and insights. Working on this research course not only gave me a valuable experience but prepared me in my hope to pursue graduate studies in a related field.
My project had highlights at each stage of the research. During the initial period of reading, I enjoyed learning about Husserl’s life and work. While I had some exposure to his ideas, the project gave me an opportunity to meaningfully engage with his writing. Further, I had the pleasure of reading new authors including Jacques Derrida and David Carr, who have contributed phenomenological perspectives on language and translation. In Japan, I had the opportunity to spend extended time with my family. I especially enjoyed staying with my grandparents, who I do not get to see often due to their age and distance from Canada. I also enjoyed speaking with phenomenology scholars in Japan, learning so much during our long-form conversations.
Fortunately, there were few impediments to my ARIA research, though some challenges did arise. One problem concerned the timing and receipt of my award payments, which did not coincide with my travels, making it difficult to purchase transit tickets and cover my expenses. Thanks to the flexibility of the AIO and Professor Buckley, an alternative funding structure was arranged. This allowed me to complete my project smoothly while subsidizing many of my travel costs. Upon my arrival to Japan, I also had some issues contacting professors for interviews. After some initial failures, I had great success reaching out to scholars individually via cold-emailing. From there, I arranged several meetings and interviews, where I spoke with fascinating researchers and philosophers. My grandparents were especially instrumental in encouraging me throughout this process.
Overall, my ARIA project was an incredible learning experience. Opening me to both philosophical and personal insights, I learned a great deal about myself and academia. The project helped confirm my interest in pursuing further education in a related field, especially one with opportunities for independent research. I feel greater comfort selecting a master’s program in a foreign country and working in new cultural and linguistic environments. I especially hope to capitalize on these discoveries in pursuing a master’s degree in logic or mathematics, while continuing to stay close to philosophy. Finally, I would like to thank Harry Samuel, whose generous donation to the AIO made my project possible. I was especially interested hearing about his personal interest in philosophy and mathematics.
