Eli Diamond, associate professor in the departments of classics, philosophy and religious studies, is known by many, and appreciated by more. His passion for the topics he teaches and his engaging lectures influence us King’s students to “shine bright like a diamond” — as has been said about him. This month, I got the chance to sit down with Diamond and really get to know the ‘GOAT’ of classics.

MH: Your specialty is ancient philosophy, but you also teach ancient languages. What drew you specifically towards the Greek language and philosophy?

ED: When I was an undergrad, I was expecting to be a “FYP and dip” person. I was hoping to do science or math. I find people often have the story of a book or a topic that really grabbed them in a very intense, kind of existential way. For me, that was The Republic, which really reoriented me. After that, I tried to do as much philosophy as I could. 

MH: What were some of your favourite memories from FYP?

ED: I was a bit of a wild person in high school, and I was sick of it. By the end of high school, I decided I wanted a fresh start. I was quite nerdy and very studious although I was not very confident. I remember my FYP tutor said he was surprised when he saw my first paper because he had made the judgement that I wasn’t very smart. But as the year goes on, you get a feel of what you’re supposed to be doing as a student. I remember Confessions, which was mind blowing. I never thought that you could actually think the things that they were teaching us and make sense of them. 

MH: Do you have any advice for FYP students this year?

ED: One piece of practical advice I try to encourage people about is to take advantage of office hours. Some of the most important conversations I had in FYP were not actually with the teachers, but with fellow students. So, the goal is to really try to make the social life and the intellectual life seamless, so they bleed into each other in exciting ways.

MH: What do you love about teaching?

ED: When you’re interacting with people who are encountering something for the first time, you have to get right to the heart of things. That is what matters. To always be beginning anew is the gift of having contact with FYP and first year Dal students. It helps keep you anchored in the main point and why it matters. I’m constantly amazed at how a lot of old people have a disparaging view of some of the problems and challenges of this generation. My actual experience is that younger people are totally thoughtful and full of energy and enthusiasm, so I’m really grateful for it.

MH: If you could be an expert in anything you’re not already an expert in, what would it be?

ED: Two of the things I find the most amazing are early childhood development and initial language acquisition, and also the study of animal cognition and behaviour. On the weird side of expertise, about 10 years ago, after Prince’s death, King’s asked me to give a lecture on Prince, who has been my complete obsession since I was eight years old. I’ve thought a lot about his music and his significance, so weirdly, I’ve been invited around different parts of Canada to give lectures on Prince. That’s an unexpected development that not many Plato scholars are also working on.

MH: Other than Prince, what other music do you like?

ED: Music is very important to me. I don’t really care about the genre much. I really love Prince, Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone. One of my favourite bands is a Quebec metal band called Voivod. They’re very weird. Lately, I’ve been really deeply appreciating the Pet Shop Boys. I’ve been finding their music very moving, so I’m constantly listening to them while walking to work and feeling my eyes getting misty.

MH: If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be?

ED: My favourite animal is a donkey, but I don’t know if I want to be one. It opens yourself up to too many snide comments. I don’t like rats, but there’s something about making these rodents so huge, they become so delightful. I don’t really want to be either of them, but I’d like to spend as much time with them as I can.

MH: Ok, I have a very important question to ask. What is your opinion on pineapple on pizza?

ED: I’m not a purist about that. I like it a lot. I don’t end up ordering it that much because I don’t eat pork and it is often combined with pork products. But it can be on its own, so I’m a fan.