Philosophy Professor Headed to France to Research, Brush-up on the Language
July 9, 2018
Dr. Travis Holloway
If you’re going to France as a tourist, chances are you’ll be visiting the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Arc de Triomphe. If you’re an academic – like philosophy professor Dr. Travis Holloway – your itinerary is likely to be much different.
This summer Dr. Holloway is spending six weeks in France, doing what he loves best: conducting research, at the French National Library. Hand -in-hand with that, he’ll also spend time brushing up on his French at the Sorbonne.
“The Sorbonne has an excellent, intensive French language study program that focuses on the humanities,” Dr. Holloway said. “My time in France will prepare me for future translation projects and correspondences.
“Foreign language study and translation are key components of scholarship in philosophy, particularly for those who are interested in intellectual movements outside of the United States.”
One French political philosopher that intrigues Dr. Holloway is Jean-Luc Nancy. Dr. Holloway’s most recent book translation, The Possibility of a World (Fordham, 2017), is a series of interviews with Nancy, in which he discusses his life’s work on issues including politics, art, literature, and philosophy.
Dr. Holloway’s most recent article,”Neoliberalism and the Future of Democracy” (Philosophy Today), summarizes recent French philosophical texts on democracy for an English-speaking audience.
