USUPhilosophy

First, we’re going to discuss Isaiah Berlin’s “Two Concepts of Liberty” – next Thursday (9/17), 7 pm, Bull’s Head. Details and links here.

Second, Charlie Huenemann will present a lecture: “London, 1641: or the philosophical revolution that wasn’t”, next Tuesday, 9/15, Main 304, 4:30 p.m. Come learn about Jan Amos Comenius and the plan to make London the new Athens!

Also, there will be a planning meeting for USU’s Ethics Bowl team tomorrow at noon – not sure where; see Erica Holberg for details. Or, if you know the location, please post in comment below!

Sorry for the late notice, but just heard about it myself. Details here. Tanner Irish is a bishop in the Episcopal church, and will be sharing her adventures as a liberal in Utah. Her lecture at 4 will be in the TSC Auditorium.

We’d like to try a reading group for Philosophy Club. Each month or so, someone will propose a short essay which we’ll read, and then discuss some evening at a fun place. To start things off, you all are invited to read Isaiah Berlin’s “Two Concepts of Liberty”. Then the plan is that we’ll meet to discuss it on Thursday, September 17th, at 7 p.m., at  the Bull’s Head Grill (west of the football stadium, in the “Blue Square” complex). Philosophy alum Dan Tate will be starting off our discussion.

It’s mainly about meeting people and having fun and interesting conversation – so don’t feel you need to have especially brilliant insights about the essay. All are welcome!

A fun and insightful lecture here about the value of recognizing the tragic pointlessness of all things – (h/t Mike Howsden) –

Interesting essay here (“Fearing Artificial Intelligence”) by Ali Minai:

Whatever happens, one thing is certain:  Intelligent algorithms will certainly transform human society in major ways. And one of these will be to challenge our bedrock notions of ourselves: As more and more abilities that we had considered essentially human – thinking, planning, linguistic expression, science, art – become automated, it will become harder to avoid the question if these too are, like routine tasks and calculations, just material processes after all.