The six graduating members of the philosophy department presented their thesis research at the second annual Celebration of Creative Inquiry, held in the college dining rooms on Friday, May 1. Representing the department were Kate Goodpaster, Joe Hillman, Laurel Hoch, Rhea Muchalla, Jeff Nichols, Caleb Phillips.

The playing fields at Gustavus were busy on Saturday afternoon, April 25–so busy, in fact, that the second annual Classics-Philosophy kickball game found itself being played not on a regulation field, but on a grassy patch near Mattson Hall, using bases made out of cardboard boxes. No matter. Nor did it matter that last year’s ball cracked when it was re-inflated, and the participants were forced to make do with a bright-blue, undersized number designed for use in a swimming pool. (Well, I guess this mattered a little bit, since it made every kick a fly ball, and it rendered fielding almost impossible–the thing just could not be thrown.)

Nor, it turns out, did it matter that the Philosophy department was hopelessly outnumbered–so outnumbered that, when the bases were loaded (as they often were when Philosophy was up to bat) there was scarely anyone left to kick.

Despite all those disadvantages, the Philosophy department still managed to, um–how shall I say this delicately?–subdue the Classicists, by a score of 17 to five, in nine innings.

MVP status goes to Classicist Bob (last name unknown) who caught a truly astonishing number of the Philosophy team’s pop flies. (The man was everywhere!) And Professor Sean Easton wins the “Velma” award for losing his glasses not once, but twice, while valiantly pitching for the Classicists in the second half of the game. On the Philosophy side, Joe Hillman wins “Most Daringest Plays” for stealing bases at the craziest rate.

The Classicists were gracious losers, serving up the victors pizza and agreeing to a rematch in twelve months. Indeed, there were even some  high-flown discussions about a combined Classics-and-Philosophy team taking on some other department to a match.

How about it? Any other nerdy departments out there ready to take us on?

Note that the Classicists are bound to have much, much better images from the game; their team photographer had a MUCH bigger lens….

Most of the philosophy team. See how lean and mean were its numbers?

Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya image courtesy of Deane Curtin

Deane Curtin has shared two photos of the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, a Buddhist pilgrimage site that he and students visited during his January, 2009 course Buddhist India. Thanks to Deane for these images.

Image courtesey of Deane Curtin

And Doug Huff reports that he and students saw an offshoot of the original tree at a Buddhist monastery in Bangalore, in southern India.

George and Peg have yet to weigh in on the matter, but we have little doubt that, next time George finds himself in Biddeford, Maine, he will learn that a sprout has been planted there. And chances are good that Peg will see one planted near a tennis court, when she shows up for a tournament one of these days.

Watch this space for more developments!

Sun in the leaves of the Swedish descendent of the Bodhi tree.

Turns out that a cutting from the original tree also made its way to Sri Lanka, where it was rooted. A cutting was subsequently taken from THAT tree…and rooted in the botanical garden at the University of Uppsala.  (Did Neurath’s boat get repaired with wood from this fig tree? Did Plato’s third man perhaps sit under a third fig tree? Allusions to famous philosophical metaphors-of-once-or-twice-removedness are irresistable at this point.)

The documentary evidence

Lisa is spending spring break traveling and learning with the Gustavus Semester in Sweden program, led by Roland Thorstensson. Two philosophy students–major Alex Legeros and minor Andrew Nelson–are a part of the group. During our fascinating tour of the botanic gardens, we had a chance to stop and admire the Bodhi Tree’s Swedish offshoot. We were not, alas, able to stand under the tree long enough to be enlightened.

Thanks to Alex for making the photos.

The Rev. Paul Tidemann (’60) provided us with a written copy of his remarks.

Shel Silvernal (’90) discussed the ways in which her life as a philosophy major are deeply connect to her present life as a labor and delivery nurse at Hennepin County Medical Center, a setting in which she has the opportunity to give women “the best care she is capable of giving them.”

Tad Marinac (’87) described the ethical challenges he faces as an appraiser–one of fifty in the state of Minnesota who holds the title of MAI (Member of the Appraisal Institute). In these troubled and troubling financial times, Tad may find himself the one who must “walk into an institution and say ‘it’s time to turn off the lights and lock the door.’”

In the discussion following their talks, each speaker talked briefly about a current issue that is occupying their thoughts, and about which they are trying to make sense. Tad noted that current financial circumstances are, at present his entire focus. Shel described her efforts to think clearly about “what gets defined as the abortion debate, which often pits fetal rights against maternal rights.” She observed that she sees the issue as much more multifaceted and complex, as she works each day with mothers and infants, including many preterm and previable births. Paul spoke about the return of Sarah Jane Olson, and his hope that this longtime member of the St. Paul community would be welcomed back to that city.

If you’re a philosophy alumna or alumnus reading this post, wouldn’t you like to come back to talk with our students and faculty? We’d love to hear your story.

And you can still find them thanks to this metablog post! Bethany Mueller, blogging from India; Caleb Phillips, signing in from Brazil; and Kate Goodpaster, clicking away in Senegal.

Alex? Alex Legeros? Didn't I fly over your house last December?

Oh, and by the way, Lisa will be leading the trip to Sweden in the Spring of 2010….