Philosophy Now

We are excited to feature **David Watson**, who is currently a Lecturer at **King's College London** and will discuss **"Can Humans Flourish in the Age of AI? The Inverse Alignment Problem: AI and Moral Dilemmas**", lasting approximately 45 minutes. After the talk, seize the opportunity to connect with fellow AI enthusiasts to share ideas and questions while enjoying free drinks and pizza. **Door close by 7.15pm, so please come early! Also, "attend"ing (RSVP) here on Meetup is strictly necessary to be guaranteed entry.** Please note that Meetup has recently been quite keen on promoting its Plus program. However, you are not obligated to purchase it, as both our events and the platform remain free. **Who is this event for?** This event is open to everyone interested in state-of-the-art AI research. We especially design it for students, PhD candidates, academic researchers, and industry professionals with a research focus in machine learning. **Abstract**: The "alignment problem" in AI ethics refers to the challenge of instilling human values into automated systems. This is difficult for many reasons, not least because humans themselves are poorly aligned—our behavior as individuals and societies routinely deviates from our stated values. I propose a different challenge, which I argue is simpler to solve and more immediately beneficial. "Inverse alignment" is the task of using AI to help us live up to our own values. I examine two questions: Could AI help us become better individuals? Could AI help us build more just societies? Focusing on weakness of will and coordination failures, I explore whether and how AI might address these pervasive moral dilemmas. I argue that the primary obstacles are not technological but rather individual and structural vices that drive poor decision-making. While AI-enabled interventions could potentially help under the right conditions, there are real risks associated with overreliance on inverse alignment strategies. Any serious AI ethics discourse must nevertheless grapple with this possibility, given its profound implications for human flourishing. **Bio**: [David](https://dswatson.github.io/) is a Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at King’s College London, where his research spans machine learning, philosophy of science, and computational biology. He received his DPhil from the University of Oxford, focusing on algorithmic fairness and explainability, and was previously a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Statistical Science at University College London, working on causal discovery and inference. He also serves as an Associate Editor at *Minds & Machines* and contributes as a Data Scientist at Queen Mary University’s Centre for Translational Bioinformatics. We are [BLISS](https://bliss.berlin/) e.V., the **AI** **organization** in Berlin that **connects like-minded individuals** who share great interest and passion for the field of machine learning. This winter 2025/26, we will, again, host an exciting speaker series on site in Berlin, featuring excellent researchers from Tübingen AI Center, DeepMind, Microsoft, King's College London, cohere, and ETH Zürich. Website: [https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/) Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin) Disclaimer: By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Communicative, collaborative and creative drawing sessions. Participants draw a central still-life that the group can create themselves until the music track finishes and then pass it to the person on their left. The drawings change hands 3 to 5 times and the end results are always inspiring. After the collaborative warm-up participants can work individually on printing techniques, Mono -printing, tetra-pack or gelli. -printing. Feel free to try out a process that you are unfamiliar with. There will always be somebody to offer advice if necessary Bring A4 paper, and favourite materials, pencils & brushes. You can also use some studio materials in exchange for a small contribution. A fun but informative approach with consistently creative results!

Du möchtest Deine Meditationspraxis beginnen, beleben oder vertiefen? An diesem Abend werden aufeinander aufbauende Meditationsmethoden angeleitet, und Du bekommst ein tieferes Verständnis davon was Meditation sein kann, jenseits der Methoden. Denn: Jede/r kann Meditieren! Heike oder eine andere erfahrene Meditierende leiten die einzelnen Meditations-Sitzungen so an, dass Du Einblicke in das vielfältige Spektrums der Meditation bekommst, ebenso wie eine tiefere Erfahrung davon, was Meditation für Dich sein kann. Der Praxisabend ist bereichernd für Fortgeschrittene, ist aber auch sehr gut geeignet für Anfänger*innen. Eine Anmeldung ist nicht erforderlich. Bist Du neu, komme auch online 5 Min vorher. Du kannst in das verkehrsgünstig gelegene Meditations-Zentrum Nähe Charlottenburg kommen, Dharma Mati – Buddhistisches Zentrum Soorstraße 85 · Berlin oder Du kannst das Event online per Zoom besuchen. Um an dem Online-Event teilzunehmen bitte auf den folgenden Link klicken: https://zoom.us/j/91141867415 (Meeting-ID: 911-4186-7415) Das Programm Zoom wird dann automatisch heruntergeladen und du kannst direkt an dem Event teilnehmen. Alternativ: https://zoom.us/download

**Coût de l’événement : € 0,50** On se rencontre mardi prochain pour discuter en français dans une ambiance amicale chez le café / resto Spreegold en Prenzlauer Berg, ou on a réservé une table (il faut demander du French Meetup). Le restaurant n'accepte pas les paiements en espèces. Merci et à bientôt! PS: Le coût de **€ 0,50** s'explique par le fait que par le passé, certains participants ont oublié de payer leurs consommations, laissant l'addition aux autres.

Greetings All, The Spiritual Discussion Programme (in English) on BLESS RADIO 1 is on today from 7pm to 9pm CET time which is 6pm to 8pm UK time. Apologies, last week our show was cancelled due to technical issues and so we are back today. The topic is "Are we living in Climate Change or Final Judgement?" To listen visit [www.blessradio1.com](http://www.blessradio1.com/) Alternatively you can listen on [zeno.fm/radio/blessradio1](http://zeno.fm/radio/blessradio1) [Please note that this link has changed from the previous address] We are also live streaming on YouTube. Goto [www.YouTube.com](http://www.youtube.com/) Search for Blessradio1 Grail Message Are we living in Climate Change or Final Judgement? (i.e. TOPIC OF THE SHOW) After the show, you can also listen to the recording of the show on YOU TUBE (as above). Hope you can listen tonight and join in. You are welcome to join in the discussion by: PLEASE call /text / WhatsApp us with your questions or comments on +44 7939 641 958. OR MESSAGE us on Bless Chat box on [www.blessradio1.com](http://www.blessradio1.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2fGBcwr_zqUzBvp1UNYPsReHJqU4HJqhn3rg3XZGIk-3b5QHFKoJQolAs_aem_ONWb__d3tcI4BshpKmv6ag) Regards, Saad Farooqi

## Go^(4 perf) + JS + WASM = OnlyOffice Nonlinear Programming (NLP) Solver Plugin Hello, 世界! For meetup #57 on Tuesday [Jan 27, 2026 19:00 CET](https://www.meetup.com/leipzig-golang/events/312537678) we welcome [Karl Breuer](https://karlbreuer.com), who will showcase an [OnlyOffice plugin](https://github.com/Karl1b/only-office-nlp-solver) for nonlinear programming, that uses Go via WASM for performance. Linear programming (LP) optimizes problems where all relationships are straight lines (making them efficiently solvable), while nonlinear programming (NLP) handles curved relationships and complex constraints, which is computationally harder, and performance is key. We may have a second lightning talk on a [charm](https://charm.land/) based TUI for interacting with the *Advanced Open-Source Enterprise Wiki* software [xwiki](https://www.xwiki.org/) (a project, which started at a [vibecoding contest](https://events.scads.ai/event/121/) and won a 🥉). ### Schedule * 18:45 Doors open * 19:00 Welcome * 19:10 OnlyOffice NLP Plugin * 19:45 LT: xwiki TUI * 19:50 Open discussion We’ll meet: * in person at [Basislager Leipzig](https://basislager.co), at [Peterssteinweg 14, 04107 Leipzig](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1fMkeDSPZ7Aauszh8) ([OSM](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3504864558)) * and online via [Jitsi](https://meet.jit.si/LeipzigGophers57) Join us to discuss all things hand-crafted or generated Go. Learn more at: [https://golangleipzig.space](https://golangleipzig.space)

Der Stammtisch beginnt um 19:00 Uhr der **Vortrag um 19:30**. **Quantentechnologien & Quantenquatsch** Die Quantenmechanik ist wohl eine der spannendsten und bizarrsten Theorien, die die moderne Physik zu bieten hat. Somit muss sie für vieles als Erklärung herhalten - vom leeren Hollywood-Klischee bis hin zu dubiosen Heilversprechen. Andererseits scheint es auch in seriösen Medien manchmal so, als könnten Quantentechnologien bald all unsere Probleme lösen. In seinem Vortrag gibt Matthias Krauss einen kurzen Einblick in die Quantenmechanik und seine Forschung und erklärt, was sie so anfällig für Pseudowissenschaften macht. **Matthias Krauss** hat an der Freien Universität in theoretischer Physik zur optimalen Kontrolle von Quantensystemen promoviert und sich unter anderem mit der Implementierung von Quantencomputern beschäftigt. **Format** Das Edutainment-Format "Skeptics in the Pub" kommt ursprünglich aus dem UK und verbindet unterhaltsame wissenschaftliche Vorträge mit Diskussion und Socializing in entspannter Atmosphäre. Seit einigen Jahren gibt es auch im deutschsprachigen Raum regelmäßige Veranstaltungsreihen u.a. in Köln, Wien und jetzt auch in Berlin.

### The Question of Intelligence: Humans and AI Intelligence is one of the most fascinating and debated aspects of life. We admire it, study it, and try to measure it—but what does it truly mean? And how does human intelligence compare to artificial intelligence? Humans think, imagine, create, analyze, predict, and solve problems. Machines can do many of these things too—often faster or on a larger scale—but they do so without consciousness, emotions, or moral understanding. AI can process vast amounts of data and find patterns we might miss, but can it truly understand, be creative, or make ethical judgments? In this session, we’ll explore questions such as: * What makes human intelligence unique—and where does AI complement or surpass us? * How do learning, memory, and experience shape human and artificial minds? * Can intelligence exist without consciousness or awareness? * How do ethics, emotions, and imagination factor into the intelligence equation? * What can AI teach us about our own minds—and where should we be cautious? This will be an open, curious conversation where science, philosophy, and daily life intersect. Together, we’ll reflect on what it means to think, understand, and be intelligent in a world shared by humans and machines. 📅 **Event Details** 🗓️ Date: Saturday, 31 January 2026 ⏰ Time: 14:00 📍 Location: Hardenbergstraße 10, 10623 Berlin 📱 WhatsApp (for prep materials and directions): 👉 **[Join Group Chat](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ba8ZAaH2Yuk6FGmD3LLO7H)**

Hello everyone, I'm inviting you to another get-together at our known location. On this occasion I would like to discuss Peterson's conversation with Arthur Brooks from March 2025. Brooks postulates a framework of "4 Idols" to analyze what drives you in your live. You can ready up on this conversation here: https://podscripts.co/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast/528-you-get-everything-you-want-then-what-dr-arthur-brooks And listen to the episode here: Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qfIq3gjOhBfZRnbmskXaA](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qfIq3gjOhBfZRnbmskXaA) Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/528-the-longevity-of-happiness-dr-arthur-brooks/id1184022695?i=1000698644232](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/528-the-longevity-of-happiness-dr-arthur-brooks/id1184022695?i=1000698644232)

(English below) \>\> der Event findet statt\, wenn sich bis 18:00 mindestens 4 Personen angemeldet haben\, sonst nicht << Worum es geht: "Kann ein Walfisch ein Wellensittich sein?" \~> Natürlich nicht, denn Säugetiere sind niemals Vögel. "Kann ein Fenster ein Getränk sein?" \~> Jeder weis, das ist unmöglich, denn Festkörper sind keine Flüssigkeiten. ABER: "Kann eine Demokratie eine Republik sein?" "Kann eine Vermutung eine Meinung sein?" "Ist etwas zu begreifen das Selbe wie etwas zu verstehen?" \~> Tja, jetzt wird's schwierig! Und es wird spannend... Nichts regt dermaßen zum nachdenken an wie dieses neue Gesellschaftsspiel. Die Spielregeln: 1. Jeder schreibt einen Begriff auf einen Zettel. 2. Die Zettel werden paarweise gezogen. 3. Per Beamer werfen wir die Bedeutung der zwei Wörter an die Wand. 4. jeder kann per Laptop (zur Not auch per Smartphone) die Bedeutung ergänzen / editieren, muss dafür ggf. Beispiele angeben warum etwas gleich sein können soll, oder nie gleich sein kann. 5. nach einer Zeit fällt niemandem mehr etwas ein. Unterschiede und Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen den beiden Begrifflichkeiten sind deutlich herausgearbeitet. Dann wird der Punktestand gezählt: (+1) Jeder verbliebene neue Beitrag in der Bedeutung ergibt einen Pluspunkt (-2) aber jeder wieder gelöschte neue Beitrag gibt zwei Minuspunkte. (+5) jede Verbesserung der bisherigen Bedeutung in Reclue ergibt plus 5 Pluspunkte Die Auffassungen aller Mitspieler werden viel klarer, erst recht wenn man häufig mitspielt. Ziel des Spiels ist nicht, dass irgendwer am meisten Punkte sammelt, sondern, dass alle zusammen überhaupt auf mehr als 50 Punkte kommen. Das Spiel funktioniert auch mehrsprachig. Man kann auch von Zuhause aus online mitmachen. Den Zugang können wir dann über die Kommentare hier organisieren. Bring deinen Laptop mit, dann wird es einfacher... Warum macht das Spiel klug? Schach trainiert das Konzentrationsvermögen. Aber es hat mit der Wirklichkeit nichts zu tun. Dieses Spiel hingegen schon, denn genau mitdenken zu können setzt voraus genau zu unterscheiden. Andernfalls assoziiert man das eine sprunghaft mit irgendetwas anderem. Aber ob die Assoziationskette notwendiger Weise der Fall ist, ist nicht klar - und andere Aspekte sind vll. viel wichtiger. Und dann irrt man in wirren Assoziationen, entscheidet wenig optimal, verliert Zeit, usw. Mit der Übung über dieses Spiel nicht mehr! Wer die Bedeutung der Wörter sauber ausdifferenziert wird immer klüger. \*\*\* english version \*\*\* "Can a whale be a parakeet?" \~> Of course not! "Can a window be a drink?" \~> Everyone knows that's impossible. "Can a democracy be a republic?" "Can a conjecture be an opinion?" "Is grasping something the same as understanding something?" \~> Well, now it gets tricky! And it gets exciting... Nothing stimulates thought quite like this new party game. The rules: 1. Everyone writes a term on a slip of paper. 2. The slips of paper are drawn in pairs. 3. We project the meaning of the two words onto the wall using a projector. 4. Everyone can add to/edit the meaning using a laptop or smartphone, and must provide examples of why something could be the same, or could never be the same. 5. After a while, no one can think of anything else. The differences and similarities between the two words are clearly highlighted. Then the score is tallied: (+1) Each new entry adding meaning earns one point. (-2) However, each deleted entry deducts two points. (+5) Each improvement on the existing meaning in Reclue earns five points. The understanding of all players becomes much clearer, especially with frequent play. The goal for the entire group is to reach at minimum 50 points. The game also works in multiple languages. You may join us from home using the internet. Comments in meetup-app will be used to organize that it works. The location (somewhere in Prenzlauer Berg) will be published the day when it takes place.

**Important note: Please note that the event location changed. This event will be hosted at the agineo office in Berlin at Friedrichstraße 200, 10117 Berlin - Take Elevator B to 6th floor, please.** **Hello ServiceNow Developers of Berlin!** We warmly invite you to the next ServiceNow Developer Meetup in Berlin! Whether you are a developer, admin, consultant, or architect, your ideas and suggestions are guaranteed to be valuable and will be incorporated into the functioning of our group. **What to Expect:** * **Networking and Community Building:** Meet new people who also work in the ServiceNow field. This is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional network. * **Open Forum:** Share your experiences, ask questions, and provide feedback on what you would like to see in future meetups. * **Free Snacks and Drinks** **IMPORTANT!!!** We want these events to truly be a "safe space" for ServiceNow professionals, so all recruitment and sales activities are prohibited. The organizers reserve the right to exclude anyone from the event who violates this rule. **RSVP and Participation:** To help us plan better, please RSVP here on the event page. Your early confirmation will greatly assist us in making this event a success. **Note:** due to international community in Berlin, we plan to run these events in **English**. We are excited to continue this journey with you to build a strong and supportive ServiceNow community in Berlin. See you there! **Meetup Agenda:** * **Welcome & Introduction** * **Ice Breaker && Get to Know** * **[Presentation:] From Cloud to Onprem: How to migrate Flow Contexts by agineo's Tilmann Schatz** * **[Presentation:] Insights into RaptorDB @SN by ServiceNow's Luis Carril** **[Presentation:] Mastering Recommended Actions From Configuration to Development by agineo's Tim Reinshagen** * **Q&A, Recap** * **Networking & Informal Discussions**

An afternoon bookclub, organized by our member Patrick Rutledge. We will meet in the café of this cultural center and talk about what we are currently reading :) and, if we've time, chat in general about books. Please also feel free to read a sample from you book if you wish. Usually we read both fiction and non-fiction (history, philosophy, sociology, and other topics). Bring your Kindle, your tablet, or your paper books. The discussion will be in English, but of course feel free to bring books in any language.

**✧ FOR YOU ✧** Maybe you’re curious about eroticism as life force — about playing with sensuality, clothing, and aliveness in a safe(r) space. Maybe you just love good music and want to dance outside the club. CLOSER x-dance is for all who want to explore the meeting of movement, creativity x life force energy. CLOSER x-dance is open to all, creating a safe(r) space for different horizons, sexual orientations and experiences. ***No previous experience required.*** **✦ WHAT IS CLOSER x-dance ✦** CLOSER x-dance is a dedication to unshackling any chains that teach us to separate our inherent er-t\*c aliveness from the rest of ourselves. It is an invitation to embrace the sensual when it arises, to grant permission to our emotions, and to move with creative play in a spontaneous movement journey. Guided by an eclectic wave of sound and inspirational prompts, you’ll move through the 5Rhythms — five life energies that rise and fall like a wave. ✺ **Three ingredients shape each journey** ✺ ✺ Celebration of you - Nothing to get "right" ✺ Invitations - Follow what feels true for you ✺ Presence - Dance becomes a meditation in motion **⟢ CONTRIBUTION ⟣** ⟢ €15 \(Reduced\) \| €20 \(Regular\) \| €25 \(Supportive\) ⟢ Buy at www.samarlinn.com/events or cash at the door **⋰ WHAT TO EXPECT ⋱** ⋰ Entry from 19.15 - Please note entry after 19.45 isn’t possible. ⋰ Warm-up + Introduction ⋰ Guided music wave — move, release, reconnect ⋰ Take it further - open space after class to connect ⋰ No phones on the dance floor

Der politische Diskurs ist für alle diejenigen, die politische und gesellschaftliche Themen verfolgen und sich gerne darüber austauschen wollen. Wir alle wissen, dass der Vorteil einer Demokratie gegenüber autoritären Systemen darin besteht, dass Meinungen geäußert und Kritik geübt werden kann - so let's do this! Jedesmal steht ein neues, eher generelles Thema im Zentrum, über das wir uns respektvoll austauschen wollen. Das Thema unseres kommenden Abends ist die Frage: **Wie schafft man Wirtschaftswachstum?** Interessante Informationsquellen für: [Nationale_Politik](https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/podcast-106.html), [News_aus_Wirtschaft](https://open.spotify.com/show/0MqROiCw2Vl0aVqxWdPjRC?si=dioN4162TqytZm210rXpYw), [Internationale_Nachrichten](https://ground.news/) **WhatsApp Gruppenchat**: Regt dich ein Politiker / eine Argumentationslinie auf? Hast du einen Podcast gehört, den du unbedingt teilen und mit anderen besprechen willst? Möchtest du aktiv bei der Themenwahl unserer Diskussionsabende teilnehmen, dann kannst du das [hier](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkOfXfOypFC3YCzwHJ4b1X). Wir freuen uns auf deine Ansichten! Foto aus Wikipedia

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!

I love my job and one of the main things I do is help customers get going with any of the data technologies at Microsoft. Right now there are a lot of my customers asking about Microsoft Fabric. It's hard to weave across all the shiny new options across the Fabric landscape, let alone figure out where it fits into your organization. In this session we'll focus on answering one question - how can I get data into Fabric? We'll talk through the "it depends" options and see some of the options in live demos.

Joanie Shell and Lindsay Thomas of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, will be representing the Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) program, and will explain what this program can offer to persons ages 55 and older. As taken from their website, the ILOB program can help Ohio’s aging population face the many challenges of vision loss and maintain their independence. Target audience for this group is persons who are visually impaired, especially those who have experienced recent loss, however, all are welcome, including family members and supports. Light refreshments will be served. You can also join the meeting by Conference Call at (518) 263-8851.

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.

**In February we will be decorating and making snowflakes out of paper crafts, coffee filters, popsicle sticks, and more! All supplies are provided, seats are limited! Come As you are, when you can; hope to see you there!**

A Must See movie by Christopher Nolan! How can you reconstruct the past if you can't remember it? Leonard Shelby, an amnesiac, must do precisely that but so do we as viewers because much of the movie is told backwards. Nolan uses every cinematic trick in the book to help us see things as Shelby sees it. Widely acclaimed, we hope you will too!