Philosophy and Religious Studies

Gaëlle Fiasse

Ethics and Aristotle

Jack Ruttan | "My students are very interesting to teach" says Gaëlle Fiasse, "It's a challenge to get to know their background. A challenge to learn about their culture."

Claudio Calligaris

Fiasse is experiencing culture shock on a number of levels, having recently arrived at McGill in a joint appointment as an assistant professor with the Department of Philosophy and the Faculty of Religious Studies.

In McGill, unlike Europe, where she earned her PhD at the University of Louvain in her home country of Belgium, and won a Fulbright Fellowship, there is less of a divide between teacher and students. Here in North America, she claims that students are more involved in the class. "There's always a student with a good question, which allows you to jump in with another point."

"I really love McGill and its environment," says Fiasse. She finds it a good setting in which to teach and do research. It's also a place with friendly colleagues. "It's very welcoming to know you have been chosen by a group of people who saw you in person, rather than looking at a bunch of credentials," she says. At McGill, she feels there is a richness in the philosophy department, where she has found an opportunity to share and discover different backgrounds. What she finds unique about the campus is the variety of people and of points of view.

The situation is the same for her in the Faculty of Religious Studies, which she sees as a vibrant place to be, with colleagues in Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity. "Religion can never afford to be less than human," she says. "It can give us a better understanding of the human being."

She says that researching as a team with fellow professor Sarah Stroud (in analytical philosophy) is a challenge because their different backgrounds inform each one's disparate approach to ethics. "There are many possibilities for discussion," says Fiasse. Philosophy is important to her because of these varied perspectives. "You learn how differently people can think," she says.

Appropriately, one of the courses she's teaching is on the subject of love and charity to others in the context of a relationship. "Friendship is a foundation of ethics," she says. "It's a fundamental condition of ethical behaviour."

According to Fiasse, a person cannot be defined only as an autonomous individual, but in terms of relationships to others. We can't live our lives without relationships, or without being open to other people, she affirms. "You need to take time for people you don't know. It is necessary to find the strength in one's self to be open to others. This strength can be found in the bond of friendship."

Friendship is the foundation of much of her research into ancient philosophy. In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, it is one of the essential qualities possessed by a good human being. Her next major project is a book on the relationship between Aristotle and contemporary French philosopher Paul Ricoeur, called The Ethical and Ontological Status of Otherness in the Works of Aristotle: Reviewing the Interpretations of Paul Ricoeur in Light of Friendship and Being in Act.

Following upon that will be a book on philosophy of the will, starting with difficulties arising from Aristotelian thought, and the different factors that can influence the will.

Her work schedule takes up most of her time, and allows her little chance to pursue her personal interests, which include playing the flute and learning other languages. "It's a challenge to prepare for classes, do research, go to meetings, learn a new city and a new way of life, and organize my own life."

"The past three months have been very hectic," Fiasse admits, "but I'm getting used to it."