91丝瓜视频

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I would like to begin by thanking the Arts Undergraduate Society听 who made this incredible opportunity possible for me through the Arts Student Employment Fund. My name is 脠ve Saint-Arnaud, and this summer I completed an ARIA project titled 鈥�Stars and Souls - The formation of philosophical arguments through cosmological views in Kokugaku thought鈥� under the supervision of Professor Philip Buckley. In my studies, I have been very focused on philosophy. However, I have spent a long time choosing which minor concentration to pursue; I am interested in all sorts of subjects, pertaining to various fields, and I don鈥檛 like to choose. I ended up picking classical studies, which I very much enjoy, after taking classes in linguistics, anthropology, archeology, and physics. My motivation to pursue an ARIA project was the opportunity to develop and research a question which lay at the intersection of many of those subjects. At the same time, I developed a deep interest in theology (specifically animist religion), language, the formation of cultural identity, and the philosophical components that shape our understanding of the world. I found that these interests converge in researching Kokugaku philosophy, which scrutinizes ancient theological cosmology in an attempt to impact philosophical thought and, therefore, reform a national worldview. My learning objectives in taking on this project were to explore the formation of meaning and of philosophical arguments, learn to research and analyse philosophical texts, compare previous research, understand embedded cultural contexts, foster international relationships in an academic context, learn to contact, collaborate with, and interview scholars, deepen experiential understanding of a foreign language and its historical significance.

A big highlight of my ARIA experience is organizing an academic encounter with scholars. It was at first nerve-wracking: I struggled with imposter syndrome as I was reaching out to scholars, wondering if my project was interesting or strong enough. I had to remember that this is what an internship is for - learning how to work in a given field, especially one such as philosophy, which can stray from the beaten path. I also focused on the fact that receiving the ARIA award in itself is proof that I am trusted with this project. All of this, along with not shying away from asking for advice, turned this challenge into the most rewarding part of my project: I was able to meet extremely knowledgeable scholars, such as Professor Isomae from the Nichinbunken institute, and Professors Endo and Kurosaki from Kokugakuin University, who gave me invaluable advice, and with whom I participated in engaging discussions, thanks to my own organisational efforts. A second highlight in the process of my project is the happy unplanned discovery of the Hachi-jinja. In Kyoto, as I was biking home from the Ginkaku-ji, a very famous temple, a smaller Torii gate caught my eye. When I went to investigate the side alley where I saw it, I found the Hachi-jinja, which, compared to its famous neighbour, was very quiet. A sign near the door taught me that this temple was dedicated to eight primordial Shinto deities (kami) mentioned in the Kojiki and in the Nihon-shoki - texts that are fundamental to the study of Kokugaku, which I was researching.

I believe that through this experience, notably the intercultural dynamic of this research, the questions of dogmatism in philosophy and the recontextualization of terms were challenged in an engaging and captivating manner. This research helped me gain critical experience with theological philosophy, which I may want to specialize in. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to engage with scholars in a cross-cultural, global philosophical context, networking and furthering my understanding of many crucial philosophical and historical themes. The financial support I received allowed me to embark on a period of field research in Japan to connect with the Tokyo-based university Kokugakudai, which specializes in Japanese literature, history, and Shinto Studies, with the aim of furthering the Kokugaku philosophy. I met with two professors from that institution, whose expertise was crucial in analyzing the complex texts and arguments of Kokugaku thinkers. I was also able to visit important historical sites of great significance for Shinto and even witness and participate in traditional celebrations. This contact with the lived experience and reality of Shinto practice contributed to a much-needed nuance.