Podcast appearances and mentions of Philip Kitcher

Desde la primera generación de tecnología inalámbrica y redes móviles, en la década de 1980, esta tecnología no ha dejado de crecer. La 2G se introdujo en los 90, la 3G en el 2000, la 4G en el 2010 y la 5G en el 2020. Cada una con mayor velocidad y capacidad que las anteriores, y con menor tiempo de latencia. Y es lógico suponer que la 6G será una realidad en los próximos años y con ella un mundo hiperconectado, impulsando el internet de las cosas (IoT) y las ciudades inteligentes. Un equipo de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid coordina MultiX, un proyecto científico europeo que pretende crear redes 6G que interactúen de manera inteligente con la realidad. Hemos entrevistado a Antonio de la Oliva, coordinador del proyecto.Los bonobos son nuestros parientes más cercanos y como nos ha contado María González Dionis, han creado un sistema de comunicación complejo basado en la composición de estructuras semánticas como los humanos. Hemos informado del Premio BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento en la categoría de Humanidades a Philip Kitcher, por sus contribuciones fundamentales de gran impacto en la filosofía de la ciencia, en particular de la biología y la investigación genética. Carlos Briones nos ha contado un estudio en el que ha participado sobre la evolución de la vida, que sugiere que unos agregados moleculares pudieron dar origen a las primeras células. Y otro interesante estudio de otro de nuestros colaboradores, José Luis Trejo, demuestra que un ambiente variado y diverso que estimule la actividad cognitiva, física y social induce cambios moleculares en el cerebro que revierten el envejecimiento de nuestro sistema nervioso central. Fernando Blasco nos ha hablado de un curioso estudio matemático sobre la forma que tiene que tener un vaso para mantener fresca la cerveza. En nuestra sección "Mujer y ciencia", Eulalia Pérez Sedeño ha trazado la biografía de la micóloga francesa Marguerite Augusta Marie Löwenhielm, quien durante el siglo XIX y principios del XX estudió la efectividad de las nuevas variedades de vid "americanistas" hacer frente a las plagas de filoxera que arrasaban las cosechas de uva en su tiempo.Escuchar audio

Desde la primera generación de tecnología inalámbrica y redes móviles, en la década de 1980, esta tecnología no ha dejado de crecer. La 2G se introdujo en los 90, la 3G en el 2000, la 4G en el 2010 y la 5G en el 2020. Cada una con mayor velocidad y capacidad que las anteriores, y con menor tiempo de latencia. Y es lógico suponer que la 6G será una realidad en los próximos años y con ella un mundo hiperconectado, impulsando el internet de las cosas (IoT) y las ciudades inteligentes. Un equipo de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid coordina MultiX, un proyecto científico europeo que pretende crear redes 6G que interactúen de manera inteligente con la realidad. Hemos entrevistado a Antonio de la Oliva, coordinador del proyecto.Los bonobos son nuestros parientes más cercanos y como nos ha contado María González Dionis, han creado un sistema de comunicación complejo basado en la composición de estructuras semánticas como los humanos. Hemos informado del Premio BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento en la categoría de Humanidades a Philip Kitcher, por sus contribuciones fundamentales de gran impacto en la filosofía de la ciencia, en particular de la biología y la investigación genética. Carlos Briones nos ha contado un estudio en el que ha participado sobre la evolución de la vida, que sugiere que unos agregados moleculares pudieron dar origen a las primeras células. Y otro interesante estudio de otro de nuestros colaboradores, José Luis Trejo, demuestra que un ambiente variado y diverso que estimule la actividad cognitiva, física y social induce cambios moleculares en el cerebro que revierten el envejecimiento de nuestro sistema nervioso central. Fernando Blasco nos ha hablado de un curioso estudio matemático sobre la forma que tiene que tener un vaso para mantener fresca la cerveza. En nuestra sección "Mujer y ciencia", Eulalia Pérez Sedeño ha trazado la biografía de la micóloga francesa Marguerite Augusta Marie Löwenhielm, quien durante el siglo XIX y principios del XX estudió la efectividad de las nuevas variedades de vid "americanistas" hacer frente a las plagas de filoxera que arrasaban las cosechas de uva en su tiempo.Escuchar audio

Paul Smaldino is an explorer. That might seem like an odd way to describe a professor of cognitive science, but anyone who has glanced at his biography will recognize that he lives his life in exploration. His scholarship as his life are inspiration for keeping the lines of inquiry wide open and the things we can discover in doing so.Origins Podcast WebsiteFlourishing Commons NewsletterShow Notes:The Dancing Wu Li Masters (08:00)The Quantum and the Lotus (12:30)Sagehood (15:00)J. Krishnamurti and David Bohm (17:00)Simone de Beauvoir (18:00)Science as an ongoing process of flourishing (18:15)Jeffrey Shank (26:00)Richard McElreath (27:40)"Cultural group selection plays an essential role in explaining human cooperation" Richardson et al. (28:00)"Social conformity despite individual preferences for distinctiveness" (35:00)"Maintaining transient diversity is a general principle for improving collective problem solving" Smaldino et al. (38:00)Philip Kitcher (46:00)explore-exploit tradeoff (46:10)replication crisis (49:00)The Knowledge Machine Strevens (50:30)"Echo chambers and epistemic bubbles" by C Thi Nguyen (53:00)"Interdisciplinarity can aid the spread of better methods between scientific communities" Smaldino and O'Connor (56:00)Wicked problems (56:30)C Thi Nguyen on Origins (57:00)Flourishing (58:00)Lightning round (01:05:00):Book: Dune by Frank Herbert or Culture and the Evolutionary Process by Boyd and RichersonPassion: film and musicHeart sing: two kidsFind Paul online: WebsiteLogo artwork by Cristina GonzalezMusic by swelo on all streaming platforms or @swelomusic on social media

During our Saturday Mornings Sit-Down conversation host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host, author Neil Humphreys talk with Chris Wilson, Founder, WAH Foundation, Philip Kitcher, CEO WAH Foundation, and Jaelle Ang, CEO, Co-Founder, The Great Room. They discuss wide-ranging and successful efforts in Kampong Chhnang to build clean Water Systems, Healthcare Training with SingHealth KKH & Mount Alvernia and others, Medical Missions, and Education programs. Jaelle Ang talks about her two-year support of an annual Cataract Mission to restore the sight of some 300 sight-impaired and blind Cambodians. https://www.wahfoundation.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are driving a car. The brakes stop working. To your horror, you are approaching a busy street market. Many people might be killed if you run into them. The only way to prevent a catastrophe is by turning fast to the right. Unfortunately, a lonely pedestrian might be killed if you do so.  Should you turn? Many people say you should. After all, killing one is better than killing many. But following the same logic, would you kill an individual to collect their organs for people in dire need of one? In this case, too, you would kill one to save many. Yet very few are willing to do so. Why? These are variations of the infamous “trolley problems”. Originally formulated half a century ago, these trolley problems continue to elicit heated conversations. They have a whole ⁠meme culture⁠ built around them. Yet for years, I was not convinced of their value. They seemed to squeeze ethics into narrow funnels of “yeses" and "noes", neglecting much of real life's texture. I have changed my mind. And I've done so largely thanks to Peter Railton. A professor of philosophy at UC Michigan, Railton used to share my scepticism about the trolley problems. But he, too, changed his mind. Having in-depth conversations about them with his students, Railton came to see these problems as revealing some important about morality. Combined with recent evidence from psychology and neuroscience, Railton believes that these insights can reveal a lot about the human mind more generally. I will let him tell you why. SUPPORT Do you like On Humans? You can become a member of the generous group of patrons at Patreon.com/OnHumans! MENTIONS Names: Philippa Foot; Judith Tarvis Johnson; Joshua Greene; Daniel Kahnemann; Amos Trevsky; Antonio Damasio; John Stuart Mill; Michael Tomasello; Philip Kitcher (see episode 2); Oliver Scott Curry; David Hume Dilemmas & games: Trolley problems (Switch, Footbridge, Loop, Beckon, Wave), Gummy Bear task (from Tomasello et al.); Gambling Tasks (from Damasio et al.); Ultimatum Game Terms: Utilitarianism; consequentialism; deontology; rule utilitarianism; trait utilitarianism; virtue & character ethics Articles: Links to academic papers and more can be accessed via OnHumans.Substack.com. Keywords: ethics, moral philosophy, morality, moral progress, trolley problem, morality, moral psychology, fMRI, neuroscience, cross-cultural psychology, behavioural economics, comparative psychology, gay rights, moral anthropology, cultural anthropology, philosophical anthropology, sharing, sociality, cooperation, altruism, prosociality, utilitarianism, deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics, Chinese philosophy, daoism, taoism, Confucianism

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza and Aaron Smith discuss What's the Use of Philosophy?, a recent book by leading philosopher Philip Kitcher, in which Kitcher calls out academic philosophy for its useless work and corrupt methods. Among the topics covered: Why it is significant that an established professor of philosophy has written a damning critique of his own profession; Kitcher's radical claim that philosophy has become disconnected from life, practical guidance, and useful methods, and his willingness to question whether the profession has any legitimate value; How Kitcher goes wrong by recommending a methodological turn towards pragmatism; Why the philosophy of science is noticeably working from better premises than other areas of academic philosophy; Why fundamental philosophic questions are crucially practical and must not be thrown out in favor of less ambitious, piecemeal investigation; Why, contrary to Kitcher's pragmatist view, Objectivism says that the most abstract philosophic questions have the widest practical consequences. Mentioned in this podcast and relevant to the discussion are Ayn Rand's “The Chickens' Homecoming,” “Philosophy: Who Needs It,” “For the New Intellectual,” the entry on Linguistic Analysis in the Ayn Rand Lexicon, and Onkar Ghate's “Let's Revive Philosophy”. This episode was recorded on July 19, 2023. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUHLl-uYr7w Podcast audio:

There is something irresistible about the way C. Thi Nguyen thinks about and structures the world. From the lenses of trust, art, games, and communities he thinks about seemingly everything. In each of these topics, he's written pieces that I consider to be among the most important works on them. Origins WebsiteFlourishing Commons NewsletterShow Notes:Games: Agency as Art (01:55)Anne Harrington (07:20)The Great Endarkenment Elijah Millgram (09:20)Trust and Antitrust Annette BaierHostile Epistemology (21:20)The natural selection of bad science Paul Smaldino (26:40)The Grasshopper Bernard Suits (32:20)Context Changes Everything Alicia Juarrero (36:00)Finite and Infinite Games James Carse (36:30)Ulysses and the Sirens  Jon Elster (39:20)Andrea Westlund and Anita Superson (44:40)How Twitter gamifies communication (47:40)Reiner Knizia (48:30)On Being Bored out of Your Mind Milgram (56:30)Childhood as a solution to the explore-exploit tradeoff Alison Gopnik (59:30)Explanation as orgasm Gopnik (01:01:30)Adrian Currie (01:02:20)Cailin O'Connor, Kevin Zollman, Philip Kitcher (01:02:40)Lightning round (01:08:00)Book: Rules: A Short History of What We Live By Lorraine DastonPassion: Game playingHeart sing: porting information; fly-fishingScrewed up: three unpublished novelsThi online:https://objectionable.net/Twitter: @add_hawkThi's Five-Cut Fridays playlistTyler Cowen 'reading in piles'Artwork Cristina GonzalezMusic swelo

What should philosophy do? Despite record numbers of practitioners, today the discipline is in crisis, awash in abstraction and increasingly isolated—even within the academy. But there's a way out, argues veteran philosopher Philip Kitcher. It starts with attending to the ordinary concerns of human life, then illuminating them with clear, rigorous thought.  On this episode, Kitcher speaks with Commonweal features editor Alex Stern about Kitcher's most recent book, What's the Use of Philosophy?  Plus, in anticipation of Commonweal's centennial in 2024, we're featuring a special segment by contributor Kate Lucky on author Marilynne Robinson's understanding of “true community.” For further reading:  A collection of pieces by Gary Gutting Alex Stern on Walter Benjamin and democracy Marilynne Robinson on imagination & community

Barb Stengel and Philip Kitcher talk with us and each other about the internal relation between philosophy and education, about pragmatism and its enduring relevance, and about the place of education within human life generally and contemporary political-economy arrangements in particular. For Philip's book that we discuss throughout, click here. For other recent and relevant work of his, click here and here. For some of Barb's recent and relevant work, click here and here. For a transcript of the episode, click here. We want your suggestions! If you've got topics you want to hear discussed, or folks you want to hear from, please use this form to tell us!

In What's the Use of Philosophy? (Oxford UP, 2023), Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher's portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people's notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them. Philip Kitcher has taught for nearly half a century at several American Universities, most recently at Columbia University in the City of New York. His work has been honored with a number of awards, including the Rescher Medal for systematic philosophy, and the Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in the Philosophy of Science. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In What's the Use of Philosophy? (Oxford UP, 2023), Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher's portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people's notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them. Philip Kitcher has taught for nearly half a century at several American Universities, most recently at Columbia University in the City of New York. His work has been honored with a number of awards, including the Rescher Medal for systematic philosophy, and the Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in the Philosophy of Science. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

In What's the Use of Philosophy? (Oxford UP, 2023), Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher's portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people's notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them. Philip Kitcher has taught for nearly half a century at several American Universities, most recently at Columbia University in the City of New York. His work has been honored with a number of awards, including the Rescher Medal for systematic philosophy, and the Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in the Philosophy of Science. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

In What's the Use of Philosophy? (Oxford UP, 2023), Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher's portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people's notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them. Philip Kitcher has taught for nearly half a century at several American Universities, most recently at Columbia University in the City of New York. His work has been honored with a number of awards, including the Rescher Medal for systematic philosophy, and the Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in the Philosophy of Science. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education

In What's the Use of Philosophy? (Oxford UP, 2023), Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher's portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people's notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them. Philip Kitcher has taught for nearly half a century at several American Universities, most recently at Columbia University in the City of New York. His work has been honored with a number of awards, including the Rescher Medal for systematic philosophy, and the Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in the Philosophy of Science. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In What's the Use of Philosophy? (Oxford UP, 2023), Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher's portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people's notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them. Philip Kitcher has taught for nearly half a century at several American Universities, most recently at Columbia University in the City of New York. His work has been honored with a number of awards, including the Rescher Medal for systematic philosophy, and the Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in the Philosophy of Science. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel.

On Stuart Mill expressed many of the central tenets of liberalism with unsurpassed clarity and enduring influence. Yet Mill's apparent victory in the marketplace of ideas has numbed us to the power of his arguments. To many readers today, his views can seem utterly familiar, even banal.Sharing insights from teaching Mill for many years, the eminent philosopher Philip Kitcher makes a cogent case for why we should read this nineteenth-century thinker now. He portrays Mill as a conflicted humanist who wrestled with problems that are equally urgent in our own time. Kitcher reflects on Mill's ideas in the context of contemporary ethical, social, and political issues such as COVID mandates, gun control, income inequality, gay rights, and climate change. More broadly, he shows, Mill's writings help us cultivate our own capacities for critical thought and ethical decision making.Inviting readers into a conversation with Mill, this book shows that he supplies tools for thinking that are as valuable today as they were in the nineteenth century.Buy the book from Wellington Square Bookshop - ​https://wellingtonsquarebooks.indiecommerce.com/book/9780231204156

Ilari is taking some time off for Christmas and New Year. Instead of new episodes, this holiday season features some highlights from this fall's conversations. This highlight revisits episode 2, where Philip Kitcher explores the relationship between secular humanism and religion. For links and references, see the original episode.

Is there a tension between biology and philosophy? Why should Homo sapiens care about ethics? What, if anything, does evolution tell us about human nature? To discuss these topics, Philip Kitcher joins your host, Ilari Mäkelä. Philip Kitcher is an emeritus professor of philosophy at Columbia University. He is the author of numerous books, such as Living With Darwin and The Ethical Project. Ilari and professor Kitcher discuss topics such as: 01.35: Kitcher's theory of morality as a social technology designed to solve problems resulting from the fragility of human altruism. 20.07: What is Kitcher's argument against sociobiology / evolutionary psychology? Is it still relevant? Does evolution prove that we are all selfish? 42.43: What is secular humanism? What is the value of religion? What can secular humanists learn from religion? Names mentioned David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Hobbes Amia Srinivasan (contemporary Oxford philosopher, see her review of Ethical Project in LRB) Bertrand Williams (late Cambridge philosopher) Stephen Jay Gould (late Harvard palaeontologist) Richard Lewontin (late Harvard biologist) E. O. Wilson (late Harvard biologist) David P. Barash (contemporary evolutionary biologist) Richard Alexander (contemporary evolutionary anthropologist) John Bowlby (late psychologist and founder of the attachment theory) Johanna Haarer (Nazi propagandist) Michael Ghiselin (evolutionary biologist, famous for the quote: “scratch an altruist and watch a hypocrite bleed”) Dan Dennett (contemporary philosopher and atheist, interviewed by Sean Carroll) Immanuel Kant (referenced from his thesis about the primacy of ethics over religion) Robert Frost (poet) Richard Dawkins (contemporary biologist and atheist) Sam Harris (contemporary writer, atheist, and podcaster) Christopher Hitchens (late journalist and atheist) Terms mentioned Consequentialism Homo querens Other work cited Siberian silver fox -experiment Other scholars to follow (Kitcher's recommendation) Kwame Anthony Appiah Nancy Cartwright Martha Nussbaum Elizabeth Anderson Susan Neiman

Today's ID the Future brings listeners physicist and engineer Brian Miller's recent lecture at the Dallas Conference on Science and Faith, “The Surprising Relevance of Engineering in Biology.” Miller rebuts several popular arguments for evolution based on claims of poor design in living systems, everything from the “backward wiring” of the vertebrate eye to whales, wrists, ankles, and “junk DNA.” But the main emphasis of this discussion is the exciting sea change in biology in which numerous breakthroughs are occurring by scientists who are treating living systems and subsystems as if they are optimally engineered systems. Some in this movement reject intelligent design for ideological reasons. Others embrace it. But all systems biologists treat these systems as if they are masterfully engineered Read More › Source

David Lewis steps off a plane from Australia in 2000 and falls seriously ill. In the final year of his life, he decides to take on Christianity, but does not live long enough to write a paper, leaving only his notes. His longtime friend Philip Kitcher turns the notes into Lewis final piece on the evil of the Christian God. In our final episode of the series, we look at the philosophy of religion and examine the lasting legacy of David Lewis. Guest voices include Steffi Lewis, Ellen Lewis, Donald Lewis, Alan Hajek, John Bigelow, Frank Jackson, Anthony Fischer, Helen Beebe, and Meghan Sullivan. The remaining episodes of Season 5 will be released bi-weekly from here on out. To support Hi-Phi Nation, please sign up for Slate Plus at www.slate.com/hiphiplus. Slate Plus members get to listen to every Slate podcast with no ads and bypass the paywall on Slate.com. For a limited time only, you can get $25 off your first year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Lewis steps off a plane from Australia in 2000 and falls seriously ill. In the final year of his life, he decides to take on Christianity, but does not live long enough to write a paper, leaving only his notes. His longtime friend Philip Kitcher turns the notes into Lewis' final piece on the evil of the Christian God. In our final episode of the series, we look at the philosophy of religion and examine the lasting legacy of David Lewis. Guest voices include Steffi Lewis, Ellen Lewis, Donald Lewis, Alan Hajek, John Bigelow, Frank Jackson, Anthony Fischer, Helen Beebe, and Meghan Sullivan. The remaining episodes of Season 5 will be released bi-weekly from here on out. To support Hi-Phi Nation, please sign up for Slate Plus at www.slate.com/hiphiplus. Slate Plus members get to listen to every Slate podcast with no ads and bypass the paywall on Slate.com. For a limited time only, you can get $25 off your first year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

¿Qué podemos hacer por el avance del entendimiento de la ciencia? ¿Puede la humanidad ponerse de acuerdo para tener una ética universal? ¿Por qué ahora los científicos son menos religiosos de lo que fueron en el pasado? ¿Qué criterio es más importante para la moral, la razón o la evidencia científica? ¿La ética será siempre una rama de la filosofía o en algún momento se convertirá en una rama de la ciencia? ¿Es la religión algo positivo para el mundo? ¿Conviene que los humanistas tengan ceremonias como los religiosos? ¿Desaparecerá la religión en el futuro o solo se adaptará a un nuevo contexto? ¿Si pierdes tu religión perderías tus principios morales? En esta ocasión estuvimos en la Universidad de Columbia, New York, con el filósofo británico especialista en epistemología y humanista Philip Kitcher, quien se ha desempeñado como presidente de la American Philosophical Association y catedrático en la Universidad de Columbia, la Universidad de California, la Universidad de Vermont, la Universidad de Minnesota, entre otras. Es un miembro Laureado de la Academia Internacional de Humanismo. Entre sus obras destacan Abusing Science The case against creationism, en el que refuta la teoría pseudocientífica del diseño inteligente; Science Truth and Democracy, en el que describe el rol que debería tener la ciencia en una sociedad democrática, y Life After Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism.

In this episode, we interview CEO of WAH Foundation, Philip Kitcher, on what it takes to set up and run a not-for-profit and how is it different from a social enterprise.

In recent years atheism has become ever more visible, acceptable, and influential. Atheist apologists have become increasingly vociferous and confident in their claims: that a morality requiring benevolence towards all and universal human rights need not be grounded in religion; that modern science disproves the existence of God; and that there is nothing innately religious about human beings. In Atheist Overreach, Christian Smith takes a look at the evidence and arguments, and explains why we ought to be skeptical of these atheists' claims about morality, science, and human nature. He does not argue that atheism is necessarily wrong, but rather that its advocates are advancing crucial claims that are neither rationally defensible nor realistic. Their committed worldview feeds unhelpful arguments and contributes to the increasing polarization of today's political landscape. Everyone involved in the theism-atheism debates, in shared moral reflection, and in the public consumption of the findings of science should be committed to careful reasoning and rigorous criticism. In this podcast conversation about his book Smith and Shermer get into the weeds of… what constitutes moral values objectivity of right and wrong the secular moral philosophies of Philip Kitcher, Sam Harris, Peter Singer, and Steven Pinker Aristotle, Kant, Hume, Rawls: who is right? pluralism and morality theism and can it deliver the objective moral values it promises? moral progress. Listen to Science Salon via iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Soundcloud. This Science Salon was recorded on April 19, 2019. You play a vital part in our commitment to promote science and reason. If you enjoy the Science Salon Podcast, please show your support by making a donation, or by becoming a patron.  

Anna Leuschner (KIT) gives a talk at the MCMP Colloquium (9 April, 2014) titled "Epistemically Detrimental Dissent and the Milian Argument against the Freedom of Inquiry". Abstract: I'll present a joint work that I have been conducting with Justin Biddle. The idea of epistemically problematic dissent is counterintuitive at first glance; as Mill argues, even misguided dissent from a consensus position can be epistemically fruitful as it can lead to a deeper understanding of consensus positions. Yet, focusing on climate science we argue that dissent can be epistemically problematic when it leads to a distortion of risk assessment in mainstream science. I'll examine the conditions under which dissent in science is epistemically detrimental, provide empirical support for this finding, and conclude with a discussion on normative consequences of these findings by considering Philip Kitcher’s "Millian argument against the freedom of inquiry".

In this episode, I have a conversation with Jason Crowder. Jason describes himself as "an academic, an author, a Christian Hedonist, a husband, a mentor, a philosopher, a philosophical theologian, and a theologian." He is the author of Philosophy, Who Needs It? In this interview, we discuss the role of philosophy for the Christian. Despite what some people fear, philosophy is our friend and not our enemy. I think you will enjoy our discussion. My recommend audiobook is: Where the Conflict Really Lies by Alvin Plantinga This audiobook is a long-awaited major statement by a pre-eminent analytic philosopher, Alvin Plantinga, on one of our biggest debates - the compatibility of science and religion. The last twenty years has seen a cottage industry of books on this divide, but with little consensus emerging. Plantinga, as a top philosopher but also a proponent of the rationality of religious belief, has a unique contribution to make. His theme in this short book is that the conflict between science and theistic religion is actually superficial, and that at a deeper level they are in concord. Plantinga examines where this conflict is supposed to exist - evolution, evolutionary psychology, analysis of scripture, scientific study of religion -- as well as claims by Dan Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Philip Kitcher that evolution and theistic belief cannot co-exist. Plantinga makes a case that their arguments are not only inconclusive but that the supposed conflicts themselves are superficial, due to the methodological naturalism used by science. On the other hand, science can actually offer support to theistic doctrines, and Plantinga uses the notion of biological and cosmological "fine-tuning" in support of this idea. Plantinga argues that we might think about arguments in science and religion in a new way - as different forms of discourse that try to persuade people to look at questions from a perspective such that they can see that something is true. In this way, there is a deep and massive consonance between theism and the scientific enterprise. Download this audiobook for FREE with your FREE trial of Audible.

In this episode, I have a conversation with Jason Crowder. Jason describes himself as "an academic, an author, a Christian Hedonist, a husband, a mentor, a philosopher, a philosophical theologian, and a theologian." He is the author of Philosophy, Who Needs It? In this interview, we discuss the role of philosophy for the Christian. Despite what some people fear, philosophy is our friend and not our enemy. I think you will enjoy our discussion. My recommend audiobook is: Where the Conflict Really Lies by Alvin Plantinga This audiobook is a long-awaited major statement by a pre-eminent analytic philosopher, Alvin Plantinga, on one of our biggest debates - the compatibility of science and religion. The last twenty years has seen a cottage industry of books on this divide, but with little consensus emerging. Plantinga, as a top philosopher but also a proponent of the rationality of religious belief, has a unique contribution to make. His theme in this short book is that the conflict between science and theistic religion is actually superficial, and that at a deeper level they are in concord. Plantinga examines where this conflict is supposed to exist - evolution, evolutionary psychology, analysis of scripture, scientific study of religion -- as well as claims by Dan Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Philip Kitcher that evolution and theistic belief cannot co-exist. Plantinga makes a case that their arguments are not only inconclusive but that the supposed conflicts themselves are superficial, due to the methodological naturalism used by science. On the other hand, science can actually offer support to theistic doctrines, and Plantinga uses the notion of biological and cosmological "fine-tuning" in support of this idea. Plantinga argues that we might think about arguments in science and religion in a new way - as different forms of discourse that try to persuade people to look at questions from a perspective such that they can see that something is true. In this way, there is a deep and massive consonance between theism and the scientific enterprise. Download this audiobook for FREE with your FREE trial of Audible.

The view that the sciences make progress, while the arts do not, is extremely common. Philip Kitcher, John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, challenges it. Scientific progress has social dimensions. A socially embedded notion of scientific progress then allows for a parallel concept of progress applicable to the arts. Kitcher specializes in the areas of pragmatism (especially Dewey), science and social issues, naturalistic ethics, and philosophy in literature. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 34353]

The view that the sciences make progress, while the arts do not, is extremely common. Philip Kitcher, John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, challenges it. Scientific progress has social dimensions. A socially embedded notion of scientific progress then allows for a parallel concept of progress applicable to the arts. Kitcher specializes in the areas of pragmatism (especially Dewey), science and social issues, naturalistic ethics, and philosophy in literature. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 34353]

Podcast of Professor Philip Kitcher's lecture (Truth and Science) as part of UCD Humanities Institute's public lecture series 'Truth to be Told'.

Podcast of Professor Philip Kitcher's lecture (Truth and Science) as part of UCD Humanities Institute's public lecture series 'Truth to be Told'.

The Broken Country with Paisley RekdalPaisley Rekdal is the 2017 Poet Laureate of Utah. She is the author of a book of essays, The Night My Mother Met Bruce Lee, a hybrid-genre photo-text memoir entitled Intimate, and four books of poetry, including Animal Eye, which was a finalist for the 2013 Kingsley Tufts Prize, the Balcones Prize and winner of the UNT Rilke Prize. Her newest book of poems is Imaginary Vessels. She teaches at the University of Utah. Paisley Rekdal is the 2017 Poet Laureate of Utah. She is the author of a book of essays, The Night My Mother Met Bruce Lee, a hybrid-genre photo-text memoir entitled Intimate, and four books of poetry, including Animal Eye, which was a finalist for the 2013 Kingsley Tufts Prize, the Balcones Prize and winner of the UNT Rilke Prize. Her newest book of poems is Imaginary Vessels. She teaches at the University of Utah. https://www.paisleyrekdal.comThe Seasons Alter with Philip KitcherPhilip Kitcher is a professor of philosophy at Columbia University and one of the most influential philosophers of science in the past two decades. Now, in this groundbreaking new work, two of our most renowned thinkers present the realities of global warming in the most human of terms—everyday conversation—showing us how to convince even the most stubborn of skeptics as to why we need to act now. Indeed, through compelling Socratic dialogues, Philip Kitcher and Evelyn Fox Keller tackle some of the thorniest questions facing mankind today.

New Books in the Arts and Sciences at Columbia University: a podcast featuring audio from the New Books Series at Columbia University and interviews with the speakers and authors. The Seasons Alter by Philip Kitcher and Evelyn Fox Keller A landmark work of environmental philosophy that seeks to transform the debate about climate change. As the icecaps melt and the sea levels rise around the globe―threatening human existence as we know it―climate change has become one of the most urgent and controversial issues of our time. For most people, however, trying to understand the science, politics, and arguments on either side can be dizzying, leading to frustrating and unproductive debates. Now, in this groundbreaking new work, two of our most renowned thinkers present the realities of global warming in the most human of terms―everyday conversation―showing us how to convince even the most stubborn of skeptics as to why we need to act now. Indeed, through compelling Socratic dialogues, Philip Kitcher and Evelyn Fox Keller tackle some of the thorniest questions facing mankind today: Is climate change real? Is climate change as urgent as the “scientists” make it out to be? How much of our current way of life should we sacrifice to help out a generation that won’t even be born for another hundred years? Who would pay for the enormous costs of making the planet "green?" What sort of global political arrangement would be needed for serious action? These crucial questions play out through familiar circumstances, from an older husband and wife considering whether they should reduce their carbon footprint, to a first date that evolves into a passionate discussion about whether one person can actually make a difference, to a breakfast that becomes an examination over whether or not global warming is really happening. Entertaining, widely accessible, and thoroughly original, the result promises to inspire dialogue in many places, while also giving us a line of reasoning that explodes the so-far impenetrable barriers of obfuscation that have surrounded the discussion. While the Paris Agreement was an historic achievement that brought solutions within the realm of possibility, The Seasons Alter is a watershed book that will show us how to make those possibilities a reality.

This week I speak with author and professor of Philosophy, Philip Kitcher, about his new book, Life After Faith. Professor Kitcher is the John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University where he has taught since 1998. In this conversation we discuss his religious journey, the philosophical basis of humanism and the challenges facing the development of a strong secular humanist community.Buy Philip's book, Life After Faith >> http://amzn.to/1UaAouSVisit the Life After God website >> www.lifeaftergod.orgSupport the podcast!www.patreon.com/lifeaftergod

This week I speak with artist and filmmaker, Leslie Foster, about his upbringing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, his current religious and spiritual views, and his new project, Ritual Cycle, co-created with Scott Arany and Heather Dappolonia. Leslie is a long-time personal friend, so it was an honor to catch up with him and share a bit of his life with you.Watch a trailer, see the gorgeous images, donate to support the project, and learn more about Ritual Cycle at www.ritualcycle.com. In this episode I also share my recap of 2015 with several "top" lists, including top podcasts, top books, and top experiences of the year.To see the entire archive of podcasts, visit www.spreaker.com/lifeaftergodMy top 5 books this year(You can support this podcast by buying these books using the links provided below)5. Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates (http://amzn.to/1ZANyVb) 4. Theology After the Birth of God, by LeRon Shults (http://amzn.to/1SlNZAF) 3. Islam and the Future of Tolerance, by Sam Harris & Maajid Nawaz (http://amzn.to/1ZAOqt1)2. Everybody is Wrong About God, by James Lindsay (http://amzn.to/1SlOg6E)1. Life After Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism, by Philip Kitcher (http://amzn.to/1SlOgUr)Learn more about Life After God at our website - www.lifeaftergod.org

The author of such literary classics as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, James Joyce (1882–1941) was one of Ireland's most celebrated novelists known for his avant-garde and often experimental style of writing. Philip Kitcher has taught at several American Universities and is currently John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia. He is the author of over a dozen books including Advancement of Science, Science, Truth and Democracy, The Ethical Project and Joyce's Kaleidoscope. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was also the first recipient of the Prometheus Prize, awarded by the American Philosophical Association for work in expanding the frontiers of Science and Philosophy. He joins us on Culture Insight to share his insight into the life and work of James Joyce.

Weekly JourneywithJesus.net postings, read by Debie Thomas. Essay by Debie Thomas: *Against Christianese: Pentecost Sunday* for Sunday, 24 May 2015; book review by Dan Clendenin: *Life After Faith; The Case for Secular Humanism* by Philip Kitcher (2014); film review by Dan Clendenin: *Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story* (2014); poem selected by Dan Clendenin: *Veni, Creator Spiritus* by Rabanus Maurus.

Philip Kitcher is the John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at the University of Columbia. He's the first recipient of the American Philosophical Association's Prometheus Prize for his work to expand the frontiers of science and philosophy. He's written many books including ‘Philosophy of Science: A new introduction', ‘Preludes to Pragmatism' and ‘The Ethical Project'. His latest book is ‘Life after Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism' and that will be the topic of the conversation today.

Philip Kitcher was born in 1947 in London (U.K.). He received his B.A. from Cambridge University and his Ph.D. from Princeton. He has taught at several American Universities, and is currently John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia. He is the author of books on topics ranging from the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of biology, the growth of science, the role of science in society, naturalistic ethics, Wagner’s Ring, and Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. He has been President of the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division) and Editor-in-Chief of Philosophy of Science. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was also the first recipient of the Prometheus Prize, awarded by the American Philosophical Association for work in expanding the frontiers of Science and Philosophy. He has been named a “Friend of Darwin” by the National Committee on Science Education, and received a Lannan Foundation Notable Book Award for Living With Darwin. Among his recent books are Science in a Democratic Society (Prometheus Books), The Ethical Project (Harvard University Press), Preludes to Pragmatism (Oxford University Press) and Deaths in Venice: The Cases of Gustav von Aschenbach (Columbia University Press). During 2011-12, he was a Fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, where he was partially supported by a prize from the Humboldt Foundation. His Terry Lectures were published in the Fall of 2014 as Life After Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism (Yale University Press).

In the first half of this podcast, Jonathan Beever gives a summary of Dr. Philip Kitcher's intended talk, "Masking the Meaningful", that was unfortunately canceled due to inclement weather. In the second part, Jonathan introduces the next presenter in the Research Ethics Lecture series, Dr. Tom Seager. Seager will come to Penn State on April 6th, 2015, with "A Game-based Experiential Approach to Teaching Professional Ethics".

Why do citizens of the societies we count as democracies fail to react to catastrophic threats? Philip Kitcher, a John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, will address this question and explain why he concludes that certain democracies are not genuine when they fail to react to catastrophic threats in his upcoming Research Ethics Lecture Series event. This podcast will give a preview to Kitcher's presentation.

Philip Kitcher, the John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, explores the scientist's role in a democratic society and considers four ethical questions: What responsibilities do scientists have to answer to the needs and aspirations of a broader public? How can scientific expertise be integrated with democratic ideals? Are value judgments inescapable in science? And is the private funding of scientific research a threat to the proper functioning of science?

Philosophy professor Philip Kitcher delivers the third of four lectures on secular humanism. Kitcher, who was born in London in 1947, received his B.A. from Cambridge University and his Ph.D. from Princeton. He has taught at several American universities and is currently John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia. He is the author of books on topics ranging from the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of biology, the growth of science, the role of science in society, Wagner's Ring and Joyce's Finnegans Wake. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Kitcher was the first recipient of the Prometheus Prize, awarded by the American Philosophical Association for work in expanding the frontiers of science and philosophy. He has been President of the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division) and Editor-in-Chief of Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy professor Philip Kitcher delivers the final of four lectures on secular humanism. Kitcher, who was born in London in 1947, received his B.A. from Cambridge University and his Ph.D. from Princeton. He has taught at several American universities and is currently John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia. He is the author of books on topics ranging from the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of biology, the growth of science, the role of science in society, Wagner's Ring and Joyce's Finnegans Wake. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Kitcher was the first recipient of the Prometheus Prize, awarded by the American Philosophical Association for work in expanding the frontiers of science and philosophy. He has been President of the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division) and Editor-in-Chief of Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy professor Philip Kitcher delivers the second of four lectures on secular humanism. Kitcher, who was born in London in 1947, received his B.A. from Cambridge University and his Ph.D. from Princeton. He has taught at several American universities and is currently John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia. He is the author of books on topics ranging from the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of biology, the growth of science, the role of science in society, Wagner's Ring and Joyce's Finnegans Wake. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Kitcher was the first recipient of the Prometheus Prize, awarded by the American Philosophical Association for work in expanding the frontiers of science and philosophy. He has been President of the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division) and Editor-in-Chief of Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy professor Philip Kitcher delivers the first of four lectures on secular humanism. Kitcher, who was born in London in 1947, received his B.A. from Cambridge University and his Ph.D. from Princeton. He has taught at several American universities and is currently John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia. He is the author of books on topics ranging from the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of biology, the growth of science, the role of science in society, Wagner's Ring and Joyce's Finnegans Wake. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Kitcher was the first recipient of the Prometheus Prize, awarded by the American Philosophical Association for work in expanding the frontiers of science and philosophy. He has been President of the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division) and Editor-in-Chief of Philosophy of Science.

Can Darwinian ideas of evolution and adaptation really explain why we are how we are? Philosopher of science Professor Philip Kitcher explores the insights - and pitfalls - that Darwinism can bring to philosophical discussions about human nature and behaviour. (An audio-only podcast from the 2009 Cambridge Darwin Festival.)

Philip Kitcher is the John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University. An eminent philosopher, he is the author of many books on science, literature, and music, including Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism; The Lives to Come: The Genetic Revolution and Human Possibilities; and Science, Truth, and Democracy. Concerning himself mostly with the philosophy of science, he has also had influence in the study of the ethical and political constraints on scientific research, the evolution of altruism and morality, and the possible conflict between science and religion. His most recent book is Living with Darwin: Evolution, Design, and the Future of Faith (Oxford University Press, 2006). In this conversation with D.J. Grothe, Philip Kitcher explores the implications of Darwinism for both literalist religion, and for liberal faith, and to what extent the implications of Darwin’s theory for belief in God should be taught in the public schools. He also discusses the role and benefits of religion, and explores alternatives to it, such as secular humanism, and offers ideas for how secular humanism might become more popular in society.