The Nature of a Summer Research Institute
It's an extraordinary privilege to be around such a mix of scholars. Whether I'm talking to Kent Emery of Notre Dame on the classics, or Phillip Hamilton of Christopher Newport University, I feel like I am constantly learning something new.
A stimulating discussion over breakfast this morning with Wolfgang Müller and Gabriel Calzada Álvarez, who have founded their own "Free Enterprise Institutes" (sort of libertarian think-tanks, I think) in Germany and Spain respectively. I knew almost nothing about Paul Ehrlich or Julian Simon before this discussion.
Not being a libertarian, I cannot agree with everything they're saying, and I wish I knew more about economics, so could counter their points better, but I'm sure they'd have problems arguing Bede's theology with me, so I consider us even!
In 1980 Paul Ehrlich made a bet with Julian Simon that the price of five key metals would go up by 1990, thereby proving his thesis that the earth's resources were finite and dwindling. The prices actually fell, supposedly proving Simon's thesis that the earth's resources are infinite, and Ehrlich was forced to pay Simon $570 - the value that $1000 of these commodities had lost over the ten years.
I'm afraid I'm with Ehrlich in my belief that the earth's resources
are limited, but maybe I am just being brainwashed by the liberal media!
Anyway, a very stimulating discussion.
Picture: Some of the Institute's members having a drink on the lawn before dinner. That's Rev. Dr. Ralph Waller on the far left, the college Principal.
Oxford
I'm perhaps not as awed as the other American scholars here, having lived in Freiburg im Breisgau, another ancient university town, for two years, but I do feel like I'm living in a dream. As I write I can hear students on bicycles cycling through Holyrood Street on their way home from the pub or the library. I'm living in Bishop Berkeley's old house. I hope you can read the sign in the attached picture, which reflects the natural wit of Oxfordians.
Duke Humfrey Library
The Duke Humfrey library, named after the man who founded Oxford's library (more or less) is (sort of) the manuscripts department of Oxford University. I spent most of Monday and Tuesday consulting their indices and today (Tuesday) ordered some manuscripts. Difficult to describe the odd feeling one gets holding a well-handled Book of Hours, perhaps written for a king, that is eight hundred years old.
Honorius Augustodunensis
Dan Sheerin of Notre Dame, also at the Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute, suggested that I consult the Ascension commentary of Honorius Augustodunensis, a twelfth-century recluse. It's very interesting commentary, available in Vol.172 of the Patrologia Latina, and is one of the very few such items to make a direct correlation between the victory parade of a Roman general, and the Ascension of Christ into heaven. This could definitely be worked into my current research on the Sol Invictus cult and its connection to Ascension thematics.
To the Bodleian
Spent the day in the Bodleian library, or more specifically, the Duke Humfrey special collections library. Found some interesting Middle English material on the Ascension, specifically two poems and some interesting homilies. A very clear emphasis on Christ ascending into heaven in his human nature. Interesting.
A pint in the Turf, followed by another in the King's Arms. Surprised by the intelligence of an American student (Daniel) from the Citadel in North Carolina. Shouldn't be, perhaps, but the shoals of witless sorority girls and drunken jocks wandering up and down Holyrood Street are persuading me that the best and brightest of America's universities are not necessarily coming to Oxford.
Met another American student by the name of Seán, coming from a well-known southern university, whose name escapes me. A young gent with great facility and diplomacy.
Oxford is heaving with Americans.
Medieval Countryside
[Image: Dorchester Abbey - not untypical of the many country churches I passed today.]
Bought a bicycle (£50 - very reasonable, says I) and pedalled out the country. Possibly one of the most beautiful days of my life. Lunch by a brook next to a small road; little churches and such-like every two miles.
Watched England-Portugal in a pub in Dorchester. Gobsmackingly exciting. Beckham goes off with a damaged foot and in his absence Wayne Rooney gets shirty, responds to Portuguese taunting by getting physical, and gets sent off. With ten men, England spend the rest of the game in a holding pattern, desperately defending. The penalty shootout is gutwrenching. The terrified English players, utterly unprepared for this, make a mess of the shootout . . .
And lose. Silly fellows.
Dorchester Abbey is beautiful. Two images of the Ascension, which I bag like a fisherman. Can't wait to get the images onto my computer.
Back to the hostel. Noise worse than ever.
Friday night in Oxford
A rather unpleasant hostel, which I predict won't be here when I return. Oxford Backpackers on Park End Street. A nightclub beneath us and across the street, so thumping and roaring all night. Thank heavens for earplugs.
Germany win their quarter final game against Argentina. Unbelievable penalty-taking skills.
Cogadh Cathartha Mheiriceá / American Civil War
My latest article in
www.beo.ie is available today. It's about a visit to the Gettysburg battlefield.
Tá teacht ar an alt is déanaí uaim, faoi chogadh cathartha Mheiriceá, i mBeo na míosa:
http://www.beo.ie/2006-07/?page=ar_na_saolta_seo&content_id=99
Sittingbourne
Le mo dheirfiúr Olwen agus a fear Jason Cockell. Jason craiceáilte i ndiaidh Cricket.
Béile i mbialann beag in aice láimhe. Ar aghaidh go Oxford tráthnóna.
Gaillimh
Cupla lá i nGaillimh sula dtosaíonn an Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute. Mo thuismuitheoirí go maith. Deoch le Feargal Ó Béarra sa Front Door ar an Sráid Ard agus i mBar Cuba ar an bhFaiche Mór.
Seo m'amchlár: Newark 10pm; Heathrow 10am; aistriú go Gatwick; Gatwick 3pm; Sionna 430pm; Bus go Gaillimh 6pm; Gaillimh 830!
Traochta.
