![Holly Ching](/news/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_image_desktop/public/2020-11/Photo%20Fall%20--%20Ching%20Headshot.jpg?h=1a418020&itok=G6txhEyc)
Nov. 9, 2020
Meet our Newest Graduate: Holly Ching!
![Holly Ching - Banner](/news/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_news_hero_image_desktop/public/2020-11/Photo%20Fall%20--%20Ching%20Banner.jpg?itok=K1Pk7xky)
Meet our Newest Graduate!
Holly Ching's MA thesis was entitled “Losing the Cosmos: Arendt and Voegelin on the Origins of Modernity”
Holly’s MA thesis was written under the supervision of Dr. Barry Cooper.
Tell us a bit about your thesis! What was it about and what were its main arguments?
My thesis looked at two important narratives on the origins of “modernity.” Framed around a discussion of modern science and method, I considered three themes in the context of Hannah Arendt’s The Human Condition and Eric Voegelin’s New Science of Politics: i) order, ii) alienation, and iii) history. From these explorations I concluded that Arendt’s account of doubt and Voegelin’s account of uncertainty formed an argument highlighting the modern human condition as being in a state of disorder. In light of this, I posited that political scientists needed to use all of the intellectual avenues available to them to try and understand the associated political and philosophical implications.
![Holly Ching](/news/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_image_desktop/public/2020-11/Photo%20Fall%20--%20Ching%20Headshot.jpg?h=1a418020&itok=G6txhEyc)
Any favourite memories from your time at UCalgary Political Science?
Most of my favourite memories involve some combination of early mornings, coffee, instant noodles, and our student offices. I am especially fond of the time my fellow MA student and office mate, Kelsey Gordon and I spent interviewing and getting to know many of the professors for the podcast, The Seventh Floor ,which we created.
Where has your degree taken you now?
I am currently pursuing Doctoral studies in Montreal at Concordia University where I am excited to continue expanding on many of the topics that I began to explore in my MA research.
Any final words of advice?
- Ask for as much feedback as you can.
- Plants really make a difference.
- Get to know all of the professors in the department, even if you don’t have a class with them and aren’t familiar with their field.