🧠 The Thought Experiment Lab [public]

​Note: while there are many guests listed in the RSVP, most of these are carried over from previous events in this series. We don't expect much more than 30 to attend.

"Imagination without reason is mere fancy, but reason without imagination is sterile. That is partly why scientists and philosophers alike have always used imaginary scenarios to help sharpen their ideas and push them to their limits." - The Pig that Wants to be Eaten, by Julian Baggini

​At each meeting, we'll do some quick reading to explain and provide background on a popular thought experiment, and take the remaining time to share and discuss our perspectives.

For this meeting (Feb 26), we'll be discussing perspectives on environmental ethics:

• ​At the meeting itself, we'll take some time to process this article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2021/02/who-is-nature-for

• ​And this guide on the is-ought distinction: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-6dt0G5wYu-DhlCrLrF41FTLvgw24tK-/view?usp=drive_link

• ​It is highly recommended but not required to go deeper by reading this article beforehand: https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=http://scholar.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1936&context=ohlj

​Some examples of things we've discussed at past meetings:

• ​Could a vegetarian eat a pig with a clear conscience, if that pig wanted to be eaten?

• ​Does a person survive using a teleporter that destroys the body and recreates it with perfect fidelity?

• ​Does the existence of evil in the world pose a problem for belief in a benevolent God?

​We'll be meeting in the Solarpunk cafe (library area near the main entrance). Contact me by email/text if you're having trouble finding the location.

​On the Wednesdays when we're not running this event, we'll often be having similar discussions here: https://lu.ma/shortstories