Written by: Lee Si Yu
Edited by: Teo Rui Ling
Photos by: Lai Yun Xin and Ong Yong Jia
Living authentically
“We should be trailblazers, we should be unafraid and we should be daring when it comes to dreaming.”
Not many would reject a prestigious MAS scholarship to read law at Somerville College, Oxford in favour of studying Literature in NUS. But Dr Melvin is no ordinary person.
Out of his love for philosophy and literature, he decided to pursue a long-term career in academia from the age of 21, and he has since remained steadfast in his goals.
Dr Melvin is also a man of many talents.
In October, he conducted the USPicasso workshop where he showcased some of his artwork and shared about the history and origins of art. Aside from the arts, Dr Melvin also actively dabbles in sports. An avid Liverpool supporter, he has been playing football since he was seven. During his time in Norway, he also trained with the University of Oslo’s futsal team and even made it to the quarter finals of the Norwegian Open Tournament. Presently, he is part of the NTU staff soccer team as well.
In this interview, we get up close and personal with Dr Melvin as he opens up about his thoughts on philosophy and literature, as well as life and USP.
What do you like about Philosophy and Literature?
With literature, what is attractive is this idea of metaphysical tourism, whereby you can experience alternate realities and worlds that are not just confined to our present times. It allows me to adopt different perspectives, exercise my imagination and cultivate my empathetic capacity.
There are obvious connections between literature, moral philosophy and moral epistemology (or how we know what we know on the moral front). We tend to know what we know and hold certain beliefs, on the basis of our learnt experiences. Metaphysical tourism extends the range of what we are capable of experiencing.
The capacity for empathy is also important as it tends to enlarge horizons. Think about how human civilisation has progressed over time. In history, there has been a move away from slavery, the universal suffrage movement, the move towards gender equality and the civil rights movements, all of which demonstrate an empathetic enlargement of perspectives. In a sense, they have been presaged by various works of literature that have set the ground for these expansions in moral thought.
What do you feel about the NTU-USP family?
I think that the NTU-USP family is very important in our university culture. The liberal arts in general is something that I feel strongly about. It’s this emphasis on holism, not just classroom learning but learning outside of it, that I find appealing. The liberal arts ethos encourages learning not just in terms of your majors, but also in terms of breadth across other disciplines.
NTU-USP has an advantage because we are still a young programme. As we are young, we are by default a tabula rasa or a blank slate. Therefore, we can place our imprint on what sort of program we want ourselves to become. This is the stage of ideals.
We are not merely looking to challenge assumptions about what the university set-up should be like. We are looking as well to challenge in a constructive manner. We want to set the blueprint and be the vanguard of change for the rest of the university as well.
Where do you see yourself in five year’s time?
(laughs) My wife is currently pregnant. In five years time, I would be a dad of a four-year-old.
Is there anything you would like to say to USPians?
You are all still very young and you should have that fire in your belly as well. Always do not be afraid to dream big, to do the things you love doing and to think outside of the box. Don’t just dream within the confines of Singapore (from Boon Lay to the East Coast). Dare to dream beyond our shores. It is through all these things – being bold, being daring, being brave, having big dreams – that the world gets changed.
When you go out in the world, it is important to be humble. It is good to be idealistic but a sense of genuine modesty is also important.
Lastly, do not forget to enjoy life. Carpe Diem.
