Kyle J. Barbour is a PhD student at the University of Guelph, Canada. He received his M.A. from Memorial University of Newfoundland and wrote his thesis on the debate between F.H. Bradley and William James. His current research draws from post-Kantian idealism and focusses on environmental philosophy and the interaction between metaphysics and ethics.
What excites you about philosophy?
I think the part of philosophy which appeals the most to me is that it is the only place you can go to study life holistically. No matter what topic one considers, there is a corresponding philosophy which can shed light on the subject. I have a background in both the humanities and the sciences so the ability for philosophy to take part in both of these sorts of discussions is a big draw for me.
What are you working on right now?
Right now, I’m undertaking preliminary research for my PhD dissertation. Its in the early stages of things right now, but I’m trying to get a better grasp on which direction I would like to take it. I’m looking into the ways in which idealism (in particular, Peirce, Bradley, and Hegel) can be used to develop an environmental ethic that reintegrates humanity with nature. In addition, I’m preparing a paper for presentation at the Society for the Study of Process Philosophy at the upcoming APA Eastern Division Meeting. In it I hope to show that the way in which A.N. Whitehead sought to refute F.H. Bradley’s critique of relations was incomplete and left the door open for Bradley’s critique to remain effective.
What is your favorite book of all time? (Or top 3). Why? To whom would you recommend them?
My favourite books would have to be Cormac McCarthy’sThe Crossingand F.H. Bradley’s Appearance and Reality. I’ve been a huge fan of Cormac McCarthy’s work for years now and while The Crossing isn’t usually seen as his best work (that would be the behemoth that is Blood Meridian), its my favourite. It combines the spiritual/philosophical questioning that is a trademark of McCarthy’s writing alongside a much more emotional side which is not as common in his work. I’d recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a good western that brings with it some interesting questions. Bradley’s Appearance and Reality has been an ongoing interest of mine since I was first introduced to it by my M.A. supervisor, Sean McGrath, about two years ago. I’m not sure that I can pinpoint exactly what it is about the book that appeals to me the most but Bradley’s defense of his brand of idealism and his refusal of Kant’s “thing-in-itself” strike me as important.
What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
I’m currently reading W.J. Mander’s British Idealism: A History. It’s a bit of a niche book, but if anyone is interested in the direction that idealism took before its decline at the hands of analytic philosophy, it is a great read. It’s well written and is the most comprehensive study of the British Idealists that I’ve come across. Mander is an engaging writer and highlights the ways in which British idealism remains relevant. As such, I would recommend it highly! Though I haven’t started it yet, I’m also looking forward to reading Michael Crummey’s newest novel, The Innocents. Crummey is a fellow Newfoundlander and I’ve really enjoyed all of the fiction and poetry by him that I’ve read.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
My favourite philosopher would have to be F.H. Bradley. I’m intrigued by the transformations that he worked on the idealist philosophers that came before him, his claim that experience is fundamental to reality, and the approach he takes to religion throughout his work. Bradley’s critique of the logic of relations (Bradley’s Regress) has also been an interest of mine since discovering his work. I’m also intrigued by Bradley’s interaction with pragmatism. Despite the apparent chasm between idealism and pragmatism, Bradley considered his own philosophy to have much in common with certain aspects of pragmatism. His conversations and debates with William James show how important engaging with this apparently rival philosophy was for him.
What is your favorite thing that you’ve written?
My favourite thing that I’ve ever written is definitely my M.A. thesis. In it, I examine the previously mentioned debate between Bradley and James concerning the experiential nature of reality and conclude by defending Bradley’s philosophy against James’ criticisms. It gave me the opportunity to dig in and spend a prolonged amount of time with Bradley’s philosophy which I was very happy about. Despite looking back on it now and seeing certain errors throughout it, I’m pleased with how it turned out. Through engaging with James’ pragmatism, I also discovered C.S. Peirce’s philosophy and his peculiar mixture of pragmatism and idealism which will hopefully play a part in my future research.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
