Youthful professor seeks the right ways to ask questions

Mike Alberti Guest Writer

The newest member of Vassar’s philosophy department also happens to be the youngest. Instructor in Philosophy Barry Lam, age 27, said he has often been mistaken for a student on campus, and that’s easy to believe. In addition to looking young for a professor, Lam also dresses like a fashionable college student, and has a comfortable, laid-back way of speaking.

“One of my classes was added late this year,” said Lam. “There were only two students officially registered on the first day. When I walk into class, there were 30 kids sitting there. I asked, ‘Are all of you here for Philosophy of Language?’ One girl asked me, ‘Are you the other guy who registered?’”

Lam is also teaching Problems of Philosophy this semester, a survey of major issues including free will, skepticism, and moral responsibility. Lam specializes in epistemology and language.

“Epistemology always seemed to me to be the discipline that everyone should learn before learning about anything else,” said Lam. “It always struck me that when you go about looking for answers to the questions you ask, it is always a good question to ask whether you are looking for them in the right ways and in the right places. Epistemology is the study of the right and wrong ways to look for answers to questions.”

Lam received his double Bachelor of Arts degree in English and philosophy from University of California at Irvine, and then went on to work on his Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University.

“I chose Philosophy because I liked the mental discipline and precise thinking it required, and because I found myself drawn to more abstract matters in my intellectual pursuits. As a student, I felt that philosophy was a lot harder, but its rewards also seemed greater. I still love literature. I wish I had more time to read it.”

Lam cites his two great passions as music (specifically indie, punk and rockabilly) and food. He is an avid guitar player, enjoys cooking, and has a budding interest in woodworking and tennis. Lam can also often be seen on campus walking his two black dogs.

So far, Lam has enjoyed working with Vassar students, who he described as being uniquely “impressive and confident” compared to students at many other schools.

“At a big state school, the kids are from such different and diverse backgrounds that in general, people are not as talkative and are more deferential,” said Lam. “They like to learn passively. At Princeton, you have students with a lot of raw intelligence and confidence, but they're not really interested in school. They’re there to network. Vassar kids have a lot of the same confidence and raw intelligence, but they’re more interested in the philosophy itself.”

Lam says that the students’ drive helps motivate him as well. “My main goal is to have the students in my classes enjoy them and really love learning philosophy,” said Lam. “On more ambitious days, my goal is to convert as many students into philosophy majors as I can.”