The Philosophy of the Hyphen

This project is about my father’s origin story and its influence on his philosophy of the hyphen, in which two linked elements create a new layer of meaning through their tensional relationship. After New College’s conversion from the liberal arts college he helped found to a conservative school, I became obsessed with his journey from being raised in the Swedish Evangelical Church to an Oxford and Yale-educated philosopher. Did his ability to hold opposing viewpoints in irreducible tension help him make sense of his early faith, the loss of his parents and the turmoil of his times, and might this help us now?

Though he published no books after his dissertation, since the Truth eluded him, studying his archive taught me the importance of critical thinking, deconstructing false myths, considering multiple persepctives, experimenting, and admitting when I’m wrong. His Tractatus on education even inspired me to write one on creativity and the numinous in nature. Working on this project made me feel I was living the Janus Paradox. While looking back at his life, the immigration issue, religious persecution, societal pressures, and the threat of another World War were recurring. His philosophy of the hyphen has shown me that it is important to look to the past and to the future, if we don’t want to be condemned to repeating past mistakes. When artistic expression allows for ambiguity and opposites to coexist, it brings us closer to truth and might pave the way for a more harmonious and just society.