THE COLUMBIA SOCIETY FOR COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY
Welcomes:
Piet Hut (Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton)
Please join on us at Columbia University’s Faculty House [PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE] on FRIDAY, September 14th at 5:30 PM for his lecture entitled:
What Contains What? The Relationship Between Mind and World, in Science and in Contemplation
There is a clear need for a worldview that includes science and contemplation, arguably the two greatest achievements of humanity in studying the nature of reality. In my talk I will focus on the possibilities for future integration of aspects of science and contemplation, and perhaps even some far-future form of unification.
For these developments to proceed, two things must happen. From the science side, the role of the subject needs to be analyzed in qualitatively more detail, as different from a complex object that performs complex cognitive tasks. From the contemplation side, experts from different traditions with deep contemplative experience need to get together to establish a common language in which to talk across the cultural and dogmatic barriers, in order to find a more universal appreciation of the core of contemplation, akin to what science accomplished in the last few centuries.
In order to even start talking about a new worldview, the foundation for any conversation should be respect. Those scientists who view contemplation as at best a form of therapy, and at worst a form of superstition, will not be able to constructively engage in a dialogue. Neither will those contemplatives who view the scientific enterprise as necessarily reductionist and incapable of leaving any room for contemplation.
Note: here I use the word ‘contemplative’ to indicate those who actively engage in a form or spiritual practice, through meditation or prayer or a mixture of both. I prefer the word ‘contemplative’ or ‘mystic’ rather than ‘spiritual’ since the word ‘spirit’ can easily lead to inappropriate connotations. Unfortunately, mysticism got a bad rap with current connotations like mystification as intentionally obscuring things.
Friday, September 14th
5:30-7:30 PM
Faculty House, Garden Room 1
https://goo.gl/maps/vEhBDixJV942
(Note: Please enter from the gate on 116th St., Between Broadway and Morningside Ave.)
Please visit our website:
http://www.cbs.columbia.edu/cscp/
Please do not reply to this email. Inquiries should be directed to one of the following individuals:
Co-Chairs
Professor Jonathan Gold
Associate Professor, Princeton University, Department of Religion
Professor Hagop Sarkissian
Associate Professor, The City University of New York, Baruch College | Graduate Center, Department of Philosophy
hagop.sarkissian@baruch.cuny.edu
Rapporteur
Jay Ramesh
