Exquisite Corpse

The Exquisite Corpse, or Cadavre Exquis, was a game that the Surrealist writers and artists used to explore the concept of serendipity, or the mystique of the accident. Based on an old parlor game, each participant would write a phrase on a piece of paper, conceal what was written by folding over it, and then pass the sheet on to the next person to contribute.

As the story goes, the technique was named in memory of one of the first results, which produced the following phrase: The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine. The game was soon translated into a visual medium as individual artists were assigned different parts of the body to represent, resulting in a plethora of hybrid humanoids. Lautréamont explained as his justification for the Exquisite Corpse, poetry must be made by all and not by one.

The same is true of philosophy.

EDITOR IN CHIEF David Jones

EDITORS Jason Wirth, Michael Schwartz

EDITOR IN CHIEF John A. Sweeney

EDITORIAL BOARD Christopher A. Aflague, Paul Boshears, Chris Gilbert, Damon Hooks, Heather Hooks, Joshua Knicely, Kristy Landers, Burr Osoinach

EDITORS Christopher A. Aflague, John A. Sweeney, David Jones

MANAGING EDITOR Heather Hooks

COPY EDITORS Paul Boshears Dave Mead

CONFERENCE REVIEW BOARD Christopher A. Aflague, Paul Boshears (Chair), Charles E. Choc, Jr., Damon Hooks, Heather Hooks, David Jones, Joshua Knicely, Kristy Landers, Burr Osoinach, Tom Pynn, John Roper, John A. Sweeney, Mary Walsh.

DESIGN Damon and Heather Hooks

Closing my first Preface to Beyond the Box, the Selected Proceedings of the first North Georgia Philosophy Student Conference, I wrote, “As Henry Rosemont and I parted at the airport, he reminded me exactly how lucky I am. ‘If you ever think about leaving, just know it will take you at least ten more years to reach this place, this place to which we all strive in our teaching careers to arrive. And then, there’s no guarantee you will ever find a group of students such as the ones you have here.’”

And I begin (t)here, at that place of which Henry, my friend, teacher, and mentor spoke. But what I did not reveal in my preface in Beyond the Box about that parting conversation is the question Henry posed as we hugged before he walked away from me and made his way into the terminal. “David, do you have ten more years to invest to get where you already are?” That question has come to bear on me as a heavy weight over the year or so since I stood there with this Confucian exemplar, with Henry Rosemont, who summoned the spirit of Confucius for my students and new and old friends from across the country.

The official word is that the Philosophy Student Association was constituted in order to foster the social, academic, and professional growth of undergraduate students in the field of philosophy at Kennesaw State University. This is our official mission. But missions are never really official in the way we mean them. Missions, and being on a mission, are what drive us only our ways. The PSA always has been on a mission, but never in the official sense. True missions are emergent from the profound, yet often everyday, interactions of the authentic particularities of the various constituents who have come together around the singularity of a multileveled call—levels that come to harmonize and begin to resonant with each other. Some hear and heed this call more attentively than others, but all in the PSA have listened in their own ways to its resonant voice.

Over the years I have watched these very special people grow in ways I never dreamt of growing as an undergraduate. I’ve witnessed the unsure John Sweeney blossom into a leader with confidence, intelligence, sensitivity, and develop a skill for moving things forward that older leaders simply do not naturally possess—a shi, or scholar-apprentice, as Confucius designates a junzi (exemplary person) in the making! All of this performed with style and graciousness with not even the slightest sound of the Siren’s call to hubris within earshot of his ears’ audibility—a shi, or scholar-apprentice, a junzi in the making. How I will miss John when he graduates this year, but go he must. And stay, I must.

Watching Kristy Landers grow over the last several years has been remarkable to behold. Overcoming her intellectual reticence has become one of my most pleasant observances. I’ve come to rely on Kristy in much the same ways as I have come to rely on John, but her organizational skills, dedication, and sheer perseverance make her so exceptional. The Spirit of the Conference Award that went to her could have gone to no other and the spirit invoked at this the 2^nd North Georgia Student Philosophy Conference (NGSPC) was again the spirit of Confucius. How I will miss Kristy when she graduates this year, but go she must. And stay, I must.

As John and Kristy move on, and others such as our creative brethren Paul Boshears and Ryland Johnson, I remember the feeling of adventure and exhilaration when I departed from the comfort of my college community of friends and mentors, albeit there was some apprehension and ambivalence lurking within. John and Kristy too will find their ways beyond this community that has emerged so beautifully. Being remembered by them and the continual application of what they have learned while we’ve been together will be a sufficient gesture of gratitude. We will remain family.

College communities are by nature transient—people come and come, but mostly students go. Others remain, mostly professors. But in any family, and the PSA has become just that and has taken xiao, 孝, or filial responsiveness, as one of its main virtues and practices, the continuity of the family must always stay intact. And intact we are. The question in each of our minds was who could possibly follow John Sweeney, the consummate leader and embodiment of all that the PSA had, and would, become. Who could replace John Sweeney? John Sweeney, the man who Burr Osoinach, the former President who brought the organization forward to the place it could become the Great Family, assured me that John was the one. Who would replace John, the one who read the moment and saw its gesture to the future? This became our question. The question of “who” philosophically may be in the end even more crucial than the question of “why.” But in families, unlike organizations, no one ever replaces anyone else; there is no exchange, no substitution; there is only moving the family into the next generation with its values of excellence, responsiveness to each other, co-creativity, and love of wisdom.

People on campus started assuming I had hired bodyguards because I was often seen flanked by two large bearded men in dark glasses. Perhaps I needed these bodyguards for the challenges these values always seem to pose, but more than bodyguards I needed an heir apparent to the substantial bearded John Sweeney. And then there was Chris.

Yes, Chris Aflague is robust and bearded too. Reluctantly accepting the leadership of PSA, Chris has grown into this role he now lives always with his commitment to the goal harmony. Having grown up in Costa Rica, Chris knows better than we do of what it means to be involved in what Tom Kasulis refers to as a “culture of intimacy.” In intimacy cultures we “belong with” each other, not “belong to” each other. From the first, Chris knew this difference without having to think it, without having to cognize his actions before acting. He could move with the group in his quiet and non-assuming manner. Slowly over time others would realize that we had another exemplar amidst us—a shi, or scholar-apprentice, as Confucius designates a junzi (exemplary person) in the making.

The PSA was built on Confucian principles, but it has grown, evolved, and mutated on its own as these principles become second nature to its family members whose efforts have taken root and provide its growth for the future. And as Confucius’ students remind us, it is “filial responsiveness that is the root of ren, 仁, authoritative conduct” (Analects 1.2).

There was only one person to follow the extraordinary time we spent at the first NGSPC with Henry Rosemont Jr. Since so much of the PSA exudes the vitality and vigor of an authentic Confucian community, it was Henry’s collaborator and friend and my teacher, mentor, and friend who would be called forth to celebrate the moment of the 2^nd conference. Roger Ames arrived tired, I knew it, but no one else would ever see his weariness from travel and frantic schedule over the next four days as he gave lectures that sometimes transformed themselves into sermons of passion and brilliant insights into the nature of what it means to be human. Indefatigable by nature, insightful by training, and human by practice, Roger brought his magic to Kennesaw State and our conference attendees. He advanced a step further and enhanced the quality of our intergenerational commitment in the PSA. As he gave his keynote address “A-theistic Religiousness and the Enchantment of the Human Experience: Confucianism Meets Deweyan Pragmatism,” he did what he does best. By seamlessly integrating two days of student presentations into his own talk, he brought the group from all over the country together as one Great Family, dajia 大家, as he bridged the philosophies of China and America together. Standing and cheering for him, we realized we were celebrating ourselves. And to Roger:

Zigong said, “What about the person who is broadly generous with the people and is able to help the multitude—is this what we call authoritative conduct (ren 仁)?”

The Master replied, “Why stop at authoritative conduct? This is certainly a sage (sheng 聖). Even a Yao or a Shun would find such a task daunting.

Authoritative persons establish others in seeking to establish themselves and promote others in seeking to get there themselves. Correlating one’s conduct with those near at hand can be said to be the method of becoming an authoritative person” (Analects 6.30).

And then there was Burr, once again, reminding me that “something good just happened here” as he had previously uttered on many of the successive occasions after he had on proclaimed our first victory of breaking through to our community. He too had the eye for the moment.

The Exquisite Corpse, the Selected Proceedings of the 2^nd NGSPC, is the representation of the resolute efforts of the Philosophy Student Association at Kennesaw State University. The exquisite cover is by Damon Hooks who brings his passion for art making and love of learning to the PSA. Following the spontaneous tradition initiated at the 1^st conference by Brandon Crawford, our cover artist for Beyond the Box, Damon framed his stunning design for our eminent guest and now it hangs in his office as a reminder to Roger Ames of our dajia, which will always be a part of his even larger family. The 2004 NGSPC was selected the Best Event of 2003-2004, the PSA was awarded the Best Overall Student Organization on campus (a step up from the Academic Organization of the Year Award it had won the two previous years), and John Sweeney, became Kennesaw State’s Academic Student of the Year. Although these recognitions have their meaning, there are no rewards more meaningful than for great families just being together and belonging with each other.

To others of the PSA—Nicki Smith who assists in making the Mike Ryan Lecture Series a continued success; Joshua Knicely, our editor of the Sophia, the PSA Newsletter; Heather Hooks, our Editor of OtherWise, our new on-line journal; and Chris Gilbert, our webmaster—I thank you, and all the others, for making me realize that ten years elsewhere is too long to wait to be part of a family again. And stay, I shall.

To our new friends who joined us this year from Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina (Clemson University), Florida, Indiana and Oglethorpe University, and to those old friends returning for the 3^rd NGSPC, we welcome you to the Great Family, for only these sort of family values can deliver us to a harmonious tomorrow.

For some of us, this year is our last. Our time at Kennesaw State University has come to an end—even though many, including some of us, thought it would not. In a situation such as this, it is difficult not to sound nostalgic, but there are some things that must be said. I know that I speak for all of us old-timers when I confer the deepest and sincerest gratitude for the time we spent traversing our ever-changing campus as members of the Philosophy Student Association (PSA); the Gods truly have smiled upon us. Buildings, classes, and parking spots have come and gone; relationships, on the other hand, have been the one constant that make this place feel like home. I am extremely grateful for the many years of instruction and community I experienced at this university, and it is with a sense of both accomplishment and sorrow that I reflect upon my time among this collection of artists, poets, and philosophers—in this group, however, one would be hard-pressed to make any such distinction.

It truly seems like yesterday when I anxiously entered PHIL 3320, Religions of the World, taught by D Jones—the rather unassuming signifier that I glanced at repeatedly for assurance in the schedule book—in the Fall of 2000; I was completely and totally in over my head. Without fully knowing what I had gotten myself into, I had made a rather sizeable commitment—having also registered for PHIL 4420, Existentialism, also taught by D Jones. Having convinced myself to take some philosophy classes and to figure some things out that semester, my hopes for the future were pinned on these two classes—I did not see my third course, calculus, providing any such assistance. The rest, as they say, is history. There are few, if any, times in a person’s life when one can say, with a certain amount of authenticity and accuracy, that a single event or experience changed one’s life; such is the case, however, of my experiences—both in and out of class—with Dr. David Jones. To say that he simply has taken me under his wing would grossly misrepresent his commitment to seeing me through this—both personally and professionally. His profundity is matched only by his tireless dedication to student success; he has been—and will remain beyond my departure from this university—an exemplar of the highest caliber. I am most thankful for his tutelage and friendship.

As the previous conference drew to a close, it became apparent that a new tradition was birthed before our eyes; the immense success of the 2003 North Georgia Student Philosophy Conference (NGSPC) necessitated a follow-up. As we began to plan, however, it was clear that our next effort would be our most ambitious endeavor to date—a two-day extravaganza highlighted by one the world’s foremost philosophers, Dr. Roger Ames. Although Dr. Ames spoke at our campus just a few years ago, we were salivating at the opportunity to hear him again—as usual, he did not disappoint. Having heard Dr. Henry Rosemont, Jr. at the 2003 NGSPC, we felt—and continue to feel—spoiled to have access to such esteemed scholars, who, on all accounts, have been extraordinarily gracious and generous individuals; it has become clear that the neither conference would have been successful were it not for their grace and wisdom. We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence at the 2005 NGSPC, and it looks as though we shall—Dr. Graham Parkes has agreed to deliver the keynote address.

At the end of the second day of the conference, I decided to seek out Dr. Ames for a signature. With a certain amount of hesitance I approached the tireless Dr. Ames—we kept him moving the entire time he was here—and asked if he would sign my copy of the Daodejing. After three lectures in three days, two—10-plus hour—days of student philosophy panels, and countless signatures, he agreed with a smile. I was—and remain—taken by his indefatigable nature; it would not be until the next day, however, that I would truly discover the depth of his warmth and profundity. His note read, “For John, and the Confucian event that we have shared, Roger.” I have yet to find a better accent to my experience—as well as the experience expressed by my friends and peers—at the 2004 NGSPC. This volume is also representative of the sense of appropriateness, responsiveness to ritual, and movement toward inter-generationality that drives this community; all thanks, of course, to Dr. Jones.

It is with this spirit that PSA—of which I am most proud to call myself a part—continues to thrive. As the next generation of PSA faithful takes the reins and the old-timers ride their way into the sunset of graduation, I am filled not with trepidation or concern; rather, I am excited for what is yet to come for the PSA. The actualization of a philosophy major stands just over the horizon, and the inevitable expansion of activities and events led by the next generation of PSA faithful holds great promise. All this, however, is but one perspective behind The Exquisite Corpse, which, like the volume before it, is the collective expression of meaning put forth by a community known simply as PSA. Hence, it is with great pride and care put forth by a community of artists, poets, and philosophers that this volume finds its way into your hands. Thank you for being part of our family.

With a sense of wonderment and amazement, I have observed this community, known simply as PSA, time and again surpass its own expectations. In the last publication, Beyond the Box, for the 2003 conference, Dr. Jones and John referred to PSA as undergoing a certain mutation; it is with certain resentment (self-inflicted of course) that I must disagree with these two persons that have garnered my utmost respect and admiration. Before I go on, it would be the greatest impropriety to neglect an explanation of why it troubles me so to disagree with these two, even if the disagreement is to be found in nuances.

My first encounter with the good Dr. Jones occurred in the fall of 2003—I had registered for a class titled Ancient and Medieval Philosophy—truth be told, I hadn’t many expectations for a class that had already manifested itself in the wildest depths of my imagination: the course title simply wore a mask as it would come to pass. My passions lay nowhere near what my misconceived precept of the ancients predicted; I thought to myself the old cliché of dead old white men and how there would be nothing more than the text of two guys named Plato and Aristotle and how they thought that this other guy, Socrates, was onto something. Why take such a class if so were my expectations? The answer was quite simple: I needed a break; a break from lowered expectations and most of all a break from not thinking.

Little did I know that on the fateful first day of class I would find much more than a simple pause or lull, in fact, it seemed that his words describe best what lay before me; as the semester progressed and some of peers found that they had encountered more than they wanted Dr. Jones commented his acceptance of the situations with the words “We are only looking for a few good men and women.” It wasn’t a sense of duty or privilege that inspired my admiration; rather, it was the fact that I had encountered someone who had finally taken possession of his passions; yet, this sense of possession eludes any of the connotations that our society could lend it. It was by no means a sense of ownership or control, nor was it a stewardship or obligation; it was much more Dionysian than that. Moreover, this passion that seemed such a rare bird in the doldrums of academia was something that he was willing to share and for this I will always be grateful to the individual that has become much more than simply a professor; Dr. Jones I thank you for being a mentor, sage, and above all a friend.

My next encounter would be somewhat unexpected; chance would have it that I had encountered John Sweeney at some point through my extended stay at this institution; yet, I would not take notice until a sort of social gathering occurred. For some reason I chose this to be my first memory of what at the time seemed like a longhaired, broad-shouldered, bearded man. Yet, there was something far more striking about his demeanor than his appearance and if any of you have ever had the privilege of meeting John then that experience will do more to describe the situation than my vein word choices shall. There was something unassuming in the manner in which he comported himself that not only commanded respect but a degree of admiration; dare I say it, there was something Confucian about this individual.

As our relationship progressed it has become somewhat of a comedy to attempt to find points of disagreement with John; though they have all been overtures of jest, I have failed at finding even the smallest nuance in which he could be faulted for not practicing the ideal of li (ritual propriety). If sincerity or authenticity is something to ever be attained, may my words about John stand as an instance in which my words fit such a description; John, I extend to you my deepest debt of gratitude and friendship; though it may seem overbearing, I shall admit with pride beyond hubris that this individual has become a personal mentor of sorts and all the while being a friend, advisor, and brother in arms.

Let me attempt to dismiss some of my impropriety and mention one more individual who stands as exemplar to what this organization and all of its undertakings signify: Burr Osoinach. Technically, I have never been a member of this organization while Burr was its leader; unfortunately, our stays at Kennesaw State simply did not coincide and technicalities tend to be failed attempts to lend structure to that which evades us. As it would be, I have had the privilege of having such an exemplary person as part of my life; Burr was introduced to me as a sage in the making; obviously, he would deny such an “accusation” to the ends of existence—much like Confucius. However, I find that such a statement displays some degree of error; I would say that Burr is the closest thing to a sage that I have ever encountered. Though Burr has attained his degree and explored the frightful life that follows this college experience, his influence and presence is undoubtedly felt within the PSA. To Burr, I extend the warmest sense of friendship and gratitude for establishing a legacy of excellence that will be felt and remembered in generations still to come.

In an effort to end this sort of “diatribe”—though even these words display a sense of hubris in their modesty—let me explain where my painful disagreement stems. With all possible respect, I disagree that the PSA has undergone a mutation of sorts; for a mutation implies some sort of definable origin from which to mutate (a point of origin of sorts). The spirit of the PSA is to be found not in some sort of diction or description: it lies in its actions. From the spoken word that has come to be a sort of historical account of what this organization, no, this family, has encountered and undertaken, one thing seems clear: it has never been content to stand idly by.

The extent of PSA’s mutation would be that of a stream constantly seeking the lowest places and in so doing, inevitably finding itself at another apex. Our strength has not been a sort of measured growth for it defies even the keenest of calipers; the strength of this organization has been its ability to be like the tides following not the sun but rather the moon. Like an old riddle, one must wonder whether the character of the sea is defined by the salt or water. If pushed toward an answer, I would say neither; as anyone who has spent time near an ocean could account, the sea is much more than that; it takes a life of its own and in so doing is far more organic, a sort of, co-creation between sea, water, and life.

As such, it would be fitting to think of this publication in such a manner; it is fitting and a credit to the genius of those who have come together for the conference and this publication that it would be described as the cadavre exquis: The Exquisite Corpse. This is truly an amalgamation of the hopes, desires, and efforts of all who have been involved at every level; enough credit could never be lavished upon the sincerity expressed by all of the relations espoused in this publication, which have come together to co-create this publication. If anything, let us hope that this publication will stand as homage to the burgeoning conversation that, if anything, has stood as the legacy of this discipline towards which we have all expressed our love and desire.