About Justin Kim
Hi everyone! I'm a rising second year student at Columbia University studying History and Economics. My research focuses on the theory of the State of Exception - that, in times of crisis, legal norms are suspended, and the power of the executive grows beyond its original constitutional limits. In particular, it scrutinises Giorgio Agamben's argument that the State of Exception has become the norm, rather than the exception, in modern democracies.
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I completely agree with Antonio and yourself - it's always a good idea to take a step back from your project and really think about the perspective you want to approach your project with, and to play to your strengths and interests. I also love your room decor - super homely and definitely a great place to work in!
I completely agree with your point that we should not lose sight of our main purpose - which is to create something that can help people in their day-to-day lives. Super excited to see what is in store for your project!
I completely agree with your point that engaging with our fellows allows us to rethink and contextualise our research in a broader sense. The evolution of your project sounds very exciting - I look forward to seeing your photography project once it's complete!
1.) I found hearing from Pamela John on the varying values of leadership and my accompanying conversation with fellow scholars to be quite enlightening. While leadership is something that I have had to ponder throughout my life––and especially in essays––it has frequently been presented to me as an inexplicable force uniform across all levels. However, prompted by Pamela's presentation, fellow scholars (Alex and Mica) and I began to explore how levels of abstraction increase drastically as one reaches higher and higher positions in a hierarchical structure, and how this abstraction can eventually reach levels which can be harmful. I found that thinking about how leadership is altered at various levels to be particularly important as we are all just entering these hierarchical structures, and being aware of this potential pitfall of leadership this early allows us to actively grapple with it long before it can be a problem in our own leadership.
2.) I will try to apply leading from behind this summer by constantly setting an example of hard work in the lab setting. In doing so I hope to both make progress myself and serve as a source of motivation for other lab members. As such a young member of the lab, it does not make sense for me to lead from the front, but in leading from behind I hope to not just further the research project I am working on, but also other members research.
3.) For me I am most excited to see not just the results of the project but all the new unknown areas that my work this summer makes me aware of. In the field of neuroscience, there are so many questions that are still unknown and interrelated, and in working on this summers project, I hope to be able to not just answer my original question, but to become aware of future question that are yet to even be asked. It is this very adaptability and potential that excites me most about the field of neuroscience and to continue doing research in the field.
Completely agree with your view of leadership as something that has been presented in the form of essays, but not really something that has been presented as a non-uniform and hierarchical force before. Through these valuable group discussions, I think that I have learned to challenge this belief, and considered how to implement it in my own life.
1. From this week's lectures and modules, I learned about the four paradigms of leadership. Rather than a traditional hierarchical and linear model, these emphasised a more collaborative and effective form of leadership, through which one could encourage and nurture others, rather than lead in a ego-centric manner. I had never thought about leadership as something that did not necessarily involve leading from the front, so to speak, but nonetheless, through these lectures, I was able to learn a more dynamic and balanced vision of a collaborative leadership.
2. I would apply the idea of leading from within in my research project. As a self-guided project, I believe that I will be able to more effectively learn and write by being self-aware about what my aims for this project are; being curious and inquisitive about my field of study; and ultimately, by living with integrity according to my own purpose and values.
3. I am most excited to be able to learn more about the philosophy which has guided not only Agamben, but influenced much of modern thought. While by no means a comprehensive dive into those like Arendt or Foucault, nonetheless, I am eager to contextualise my historical studies by looking into the paradigms and ideologies that defined the catastrophes of the 20th century, and which still continue to affect the world today.