Do we have free will?
Details
Welcome to “Skeptic Dinners,” a series of events facilitated by Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, a philosopher and biologist at the City College of New York. The idea is similar to that of the Ancient Greek symposia: let’s get a small number of like-minded people together over drinks and food and discuss interesting subjects!
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It's the perennial question: do we have free will? And what does that imply for moral responsibility? This month we'll examine the debate between hard determinists and compatibilists, two of the major philosophical positions on this issue (the third one is free will libertarianism, usually pushed only by Christian theologians and the like).
In particular, we'll examine three short pieces by Michael Shermer (publisher of Skeptic magazine) and Jerry Coyne (evolutionary biologist), arguing respectively for compatibilism and hard determinism. Join us, will you? Well, you don't have a choice, really. Or do you??
Suggested readings / viewing:
* The truth about free will, by M. Shermer
* A mulled argument, by J. Coyne
* Free will, determinism, and compatibilism, by M. Shermer
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Please note the changed location!
Also NOTE: Since these are dinner events at a restaurant, which require reservations, you are expected to consume some food. Also please treat your rsvp seriously and update it if you decide not to come. If you don’t and we end up with empty seats, you may be barred from some of the next meeting. Thanks for understanding!