This past February, Dr. Adam Barkman spent time in Northern Ireland chasing down one of his favourite thinkers, C. S. Lewis. 鈥淢y interest in Lewis studies has always been Lewis’s philosophical development,鈥 he says, 鈥渆specially as this is revealed through marginalia.鈥 Marginalia鈥攖he marginal, unpublished notes of C. S. Lewis, were the focus of the trip. The majority of time was spent at , Lewis鈥檚 mother鈥檚 alma mater.
Lewis, a profoundly influential intellectual in evangelical circles, has been a common subject in Barkman鈥檚 writing and research for nearly a decade. It started with a debate in on Lewis鈥檚 view of gender and culminated with a weighty tome on Lewis鈥檚 philosophical development, .
鈥淏eing in Belfast also helped me ‘feel in my bones’ the city where Lewis grew up.鈥
It鈥檚 arguable that the culmination has yet to come, however, as Barkman continues his research. In order to get to the essence of the man, Barkman delved into the University鈥檚 A series of ten letters between Lewis and a gentleman on the origins debate were donated to the school in 2012. Barkman鈥檚 particular interest is on the dialogue the two men held on positions Christians can or can’t take with respect to evolution.
It was time well spent. 鈥淲hat I found particularly valuable,鈥 he says, 鈥渨as exploring the context of these letters through various secondary sources present and discussing these with resident and visiting scholars there.鈥
Visiting Lewis鈥檚 birthplace was an added bonus and unexpected delight. 鈥淏eing in Belfast also helped me ‘feel in my bones’ the city where Lewis grew up,鈥 notes Barkman. 鈥淚 returned feeling deeply inspired and refreshed.鈥
Research and teaching are synergistic. Many of Dr. Barkman鈥檚 courses feature Lewis and will continue to do so, perhaps now in an even more pronounced way. PHL 121, the Story of Philosophy, will feature an essay assignment on The Weight of Glory. An upper-year Environmental Philosophy course will use Perelandra as a thought experiment on, in Barkman鈥檚 words, 鈥渉ow things might have been at the origin of things.鈥
It鈥檚 not impossible to imagine that a Redeemer student鈥檚 rough, marginal notes might one day become the topic of research. Until then, sitting in on Dr. Barkman鈥檚 classes will have to do.