An Interview with: Juliette Jacqmarcq

Editor-in-Chief

  1. Could you tell us more about your journey to Pharos and your interest in Philosophy? What prompted you to join the magazine?

My journey to Pharos has been a very natural one. It was intertwined with a passion for philosophy and also a desire to meet like-minded people who share that same passion. It presented above all an opportunity to be part of a community: to share our thoughts on philosophy, different perspectives and ideas, which I really liked. 

  1. Could you introduce yourself to our readers? What’s your academic background, what are your interests and hobbies outside of work? 

My name is Juliette, I am Editor-in-Chief of Pharos. I was Deputy Editor last year when I first joined. I’m a second year student studying PPE tripartite, so I kept all three subjects. Besides philosophy, which I love, I enjoy reading, travelling, dancing, and spending time in nature. 

  1. What aspects of philosophy do you find most interesting and could you give certain examples why? 

I enjoy the exploration of ethics. I think ethics is something you see in everyday life – it asks good questions, such as “what is the good life”, “what is the moral life”, “how should we act”, “what is wrong”… This year I took a module called the Philosophy of Evil which explores the difference between good and evil. I think ethics is really interesting and it’s my favourite part of philosophy because you can apply it to your everyday life. 

  1. What do you appreciate about Warwick’s approach to teaching philosophy – what do you think they do well? 

I think Warwick enables us to take two approaches to Philosophy. First is an academic approach where we can do our own readings and our own research – especially in seminars. Then, with Pharos, we have our really personal approach to philosophy where we can research and write about what we personally like about philosophy. 

  1. What are your favourite things about Pharos magazine? What are some of the elements of the magazine that appeal to you and motivated you to want to become Editor-in-Chief? 

Apart from the wonderful executive team I am working with, I think I was just looking for a community – a community to work with, discuss or debate with. I love Pharos’s ability to make philosophy accessible to everyone. Any students, even if they’re not studying philosophy can submit anything they like such as articles, short stories, poems, songs – so it really makes philosophy accessible to everyone, because everyone has their personal view on philosophy. That is what I love about Pharos. 

  1. Could you tell our readers more about how you hope to make Pharos more accessible to wider audiences? 

For example, in Week 7, we are going to hold a writing clinic. Everyone can come to meet the Pharos exec and PhilSoc exec, and just write together, share ideas and come up with new ideas. We’re probably going to hold an event with debate society – any societies that want to collaborate with us are welcome to get in touch!

  1. If you could share one message with our readers to condense your ideas for Pharos into one line what would it be? 

I’d say just don’t be scared. Don’t be scared to send in submissions and please feel free to contact us to ask questions or discuss ideas. We’re very friendly!

  1. What do you hope to accomplish this year as Editor-in-Chief of Pharos?

As I said before, I really want to expand Pharos’s reach – to make it accessible to everyone and not just philosophy students. I think last year we really focused on philosophy, PPE, PPL students – but I think this year we’ll reach out and expand to physics students, economics students and more. Philosophy is everywhere – it’s in art, everyday life and it’s attached to everything and anything. 

  1. Is there any one philosopher that you resonate with most, something they thought that you sort of identify with?

That’s a very hard question. At the moment, I am immersed in quite a few pieces from a French philosopher called Andre Comte Sponville. He has a very stoic approach to philosophy, and a very realist approach. Some might say that he is pessimistic but I find him realist. Even though I am quite optimistic, I find his approach to philosophy very interesting. For example, he seeks to love life as it is and not as it should be. He believes that we shouldn’t be disappointed in things, because we shouldn’t have expectations of people and actions. I find it reassuring to think that everything that will happen, happens for a reason, and that sometimes things are out of our control and we just have to live with it. 

  1. Would you say that you are more partial to stoicism as a school of thought? 

I wouldn’t say that I am a stoic, but it’s definitely interesting and it kind of reassures me about life and what happens in life that is out of our control. I find it’s a good framework to take life as it is and not be concerned too much with what is out of our control. 

  1. How do you apply philosophy to your daily life? 

Again, a hard question. I don’t think I really apply philosophy to my daily life, rather I seek to live philosophically – I reflect and ask myself questions often. I think it’s common among philosophy students that we tend to overthink a bit so, everything I do, I kind of think about the meaning of it. It adds both confusion and clarity to my life. I love reading new philosophy and new authors that I didn’t know. I think I take a lot of philosophy theories and bring them to my life to make my life my own. Don’t live by one philosophy! 

  1. What do you think is the most important thing anyone studying philosophy should take away from it?

I think it’s about figuring out who you are and what your role is in life. To figure out life and yourself. Hopefully it reassures people that to have questions about life is normal and okay. I think it’s also to build a community of people who think and are aware of life. If I had to choose one word to describe Philosophy students it would be curious!

(This interview has been lightly edited for clarity)