From June 22 through 26 the CHS hosted graduate students from institutions across North America to partake in an intensive reading and discussion of Alexander’s De Anima. The group was lead by Harvard professors Peter Osorio (Classics) and Reier Helle (Philosophy).
Reflection from Peter Osorio, Assistant Professor of Classics
A Hellenist recently told me that they envied ancient philosophers their reading groups. At the time, I was glad to hear that the model of the philosophical reading group was the envy of another classicist. Now, I am glad to report that there is a new occasion to enmatter that model, in our ancient philosophy graduate reading week, graciously hosted by the Center for Hellenic Studies. In its first instance, its principal materials were Alexander of Aphrodisias’ De anima 1–26 (his hylomorphic account of the soul) and six doctoral students from several North American joint programs in ancient philosophy. I trust that in future years this event, too, will provide an enduring model of close analytical reading.
The graduate students were excellent reading companions for Reier Helle and me. We heard presentations on prepared sections from Samuel Boudreau (Toronto), Will Edwards (Harvard), Victor Gonçalves de Sousa (Pitt), Frank Li (Harvard), Alessandro Peiris (Cornell), and Angela Yeo (Yale). Just as productive were sessions in which the group worked through sections collectively. It is always so useful to read with others and to reason aloud, as it were. Thanks to the push and pull of our different voices I feel I have a much better handle on this difficult and understudied text. The majority of these students were meeting each other for the first time, and it was heartening to see that the group so quickly bonded. We also had the benefit of being joined at points by Brennan McDavid and from talking with Cecilia Li and the other CHS Summer Fellows during the lunch hours.
The pace of reading was very demanding at times, but we also had moments to unwind. The week started with a welcome dinner and a World Cup watch party, in which we felt obliged to support Reier’s Norwegian compatriots. (While we were happy they won, Reier sadly didn’t perform the Viking row for us.) The week ended with a celebratory happy hour in Glover Park. The students will see us and each other again soon, at our Cambridge faculty workshop in July, but I hope they continue to be in touch throughout their careers—as a graduate student I made several friends through such reading groups.
