A Graduate Student Reports from Tübingen

Shaun Oon, one of our MA Students, attended a summer school in Tübingen this past summer. He wrote the following report of his experience. Tongue in cheek, of course.

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TERRIBLE TÜBINGEN

by Shaun Oon

Matha Nussbaum, Shaun Oon, Forum Scientiarum DirectorYou should never trust anything that you read on the internet. That has always been my general policy and is one that has rarely steered me wrong. Except that it was the reason why I was under three layers of winter clothing, standing at the Tübingen train station, in the Swabian summer sun. Who would have expected the German weather forecast site to get their prediction right? Under my coats and heavy backpack, the delightful Tübingen weather, which persistently refused to get worse throughout my stay there, was insufferable. The long, never-ending 800 metre walk to the youth hostel where I was to spend the week brought to my mind the cantos of Dante’s Inferno. On top of that, when I got to the hostel, I learnt that I was not provided a bath towel. Thankfully, as an avid fan of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, I had brought my own, but imagine if I had not done so and had to rent one from the hostel! You would imagine that the organisers of the Unseld Summer School, after flying me across two continents, paying for my lodging as well as some of my meals, would have been willing to pay for a towel rental, but there was obviously a limit to their generosity.

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Stephanie Lee

Stephanie Lee
Currently, I am interested in the problem of the explanatory gap in philosophy of mind and what it tells us about our theories of consciousness. Many questions are raised in the face of this epistemological problem, and I would like to explore the possible responses that our theories of consciousness may give. Aside from the explanatory gap, my philosophical interests – both great and small – include phenomenology (particularly that of Emmanuel Levinas), metaphysics (identity, persistence), Self-Other relations, metaphilosophy, and theories of explanation.

Stephanie Lee (B.A. Hons NUS); Email: g0800378-at-nus.edu.sg; Degree: MA

StephanieAbout Herself: Currently, I am interested in the problem of the explanatory gap in philosophy of mind and what it tells us about our theories of consciousness. Many questions are raised in the face of this epistemological problem, and I would like to explore the possible responses that our theories of consciousness may give. Aside from the explanatory gap, my philosophical interests – both great and small – include phenomenology (particularly that of Emmanuel Levinas), metaphysics (identity, persistence), Self-Other relations, metaphilosophy, and theories of explanation.

Tan Li Ling

Tan Li Ling (B.A. Hons NUS); Email: g0800379-at-nus.edu.sg; Degree: MA

LilingAbout Herself: I am presently working on the issue of global justice and world poverty for my M.A. thesis, with particular focus on the question of what moral obligations we as affluent individuals owe to the global poor. The familiar concern about injustice against certain individuals and communities aside, I am also concerned about issues of environmental justice and animal ethics. My other philosophical interests include ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly the thought of Confucius, Chuang-tzu and Lao-tzu.

Areas of interest: Political Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Chinese Philosophy

Fong Wai Mung

Fong Wai Mung (B.A. Hons NUS); Email: a0066352-at-nus.edu.sg; Degree: MA

Wai MungAbout Herself: I received my B.A. from NUS majoring in Philosophy and English Literature. My current research is on the Holocaust and antisemitism, as I think philosophy should have something to say about such great evils. I wonder if something intelligible to the human sense and conscience could be said about the Holocaust. I am also interested to look at how the Holocaust could alter our understanding of evil, of goodness, of rationality, and of God. Kierkegaard is one philosopher who inspires me deeply. Besides philosophizing, i enjoy running, swimming and learning foreign languages.

Areas of interest: The Holocaust and Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Moral Philosophy.