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davis_squareMcIntyre & Moore Booksellers hosts "Cognitive Responsibility: Should Faith Ever Trump Facts?": December's topic at the Davis Square Philosophy Café, moderated by Tom Clark, on December 19, 7:30-9:30 pm at McIntyre & Moore Booksellers, 255 Elm St. in Davis Square, Somerville, near the Red Line. Free and open to all; wheelchair accessible. 15% book discount* for all those attending [*discount available for day of event only]. For information call McIntyre & Moore Booksellers (617) 629-4840 or log onto www.mcintyreandmoore.com.
McIntyre and Moore Booksellers, in conjunction with the Center for Naturalism, continues year 4 of its discussion group series, the Davis Square Philosophy Café, held each month on the third Tuesday. The Philosophy Café is a philosophy discussion group modeled on philosophy cafés underway in other cities in Europe and the US. The goal is to present occasions for informal, relaxed philosophical discussion on topics of mutual interest to participants. No particular expertise is required to participate, only a desire to explore philosophy and its real world applications.
December’s topic, "Cognitive Responsibility: Should Faith Ever Trump Facts?", will focus on the following:
In our open society, freedom of religion is an essential liberty protected by the First Amendment. But what if faith-based beliefs conflict with empirical evidence? Some believe that physical disease is an illusion, to be healed by prayer; others that mental illness is a fraud, so psychiatry should be banned; others that condoms don’t prevent the spread of HIV. Such beliefs can have damaging consequences, so is it responsible to hold them? If not, how can freedom of belief and our cognitive responsibilities best be reconciled?
(Background of the moderator)
Tom Clark is director of the Boston-based Center for Naturalism. He writes on science, naturalism, free will, consciousness, addiction and other topics, and maintains an extensive website on philosophical and applied naturalism, Naturalism.Org (Yahoo #1 searching on "naturalism"). As moderator of the Philosophy Café, he brings an engaging interest in philosophy and its real world applications, and the ability to involve participants of varied backgrounds in animated, productive, and fair discussion.
McIntyre & Moore Booksellers
www.mcintyreandmoore.com
On the Red Line, in the heart of Davis Square
Greater Boston's best source for scholarly used books
Open for browsing 7 days a week until 11 pm
McIntyre and Moore Booksellers, in conjunction with the Center for Naturalism, continues year 4 of its discussion group series, the Davis Square Philosophy Café, held each month on the third Tuesday. The Philosophy Café is a philosophy discussion group modeled on philosophy cafés underway in other cities in Europe and the US. The goal is to present occasions for informal, relaxed philosophical discussion on topics of mutual interest to participants. No particular expertise is required to participate, only a desire to explore philosophy and its real world applications.
December’s topic, "Cognitive Responsibility: Should Faith Ever Trump Facts?", will focus on the following:
In our open society, freedom of religion is an essential liberty protected by the First Amendment. But what if faith-based beliefs conflict with empirical evidence? Some believe that physical disease is an illusion, to be healed by prayer; others that mental illness is a fraud, so psychiatry should be banned; others that condoms don’t prevent the spread of HIV. Such beliefs can have damaging consequences, so is it responsible to hold them? If not, how can freedom of belief and our cognitive responsibilities best be reconciled?
(Background of the moderator)
Tom Clark is director of the Boston-based Center for Naturalism. He writes on science, naturalism, free will, consciousness, addiction and other topics, and maintains an extensive website on philosophical and applied naturalism, Naturalism.Org (Yahoo #1 searching on "naturalism"). As moderator of the Philosophy Café, he brings an engaging interest in philosophy and its real world applications, and the ability to involve participants of varied backgrounds in animated, productive, and fair discussion.
McIntyre & Moore Booksellers
www.mcintyreandmoore.com
On the Red Line, in the heart of Davis Square
Greater Boston's best source for scholarly used books
Open for browsing 7 days a week until 11 pm
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