🧠 The Thought Experiment Lab

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

For this meeting (October 7), we'll be discussing arguments for the existence of God.

• Please review this very brief primer on the norms of philosophical discussion: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gj3HesfWz4A2kEAMSY0x7hNxvJZNtiCexUeilJXVak8/edit?usp=sharing

• It is highly recommended to read this article on the Kalam cosmological argument: https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialSciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/Chapter%203%20Religion/CH-3-Documents/ch3-kalam-ont-arg-notes.pdf

Some examples of topics we've discussed at past meetings:

• Do you survive being teleported?

• Is God required to have morality?

• What are the limits of free speech?

• Is it moral to breed pigs that want to be eaten?

• Should crimes be punished before they happen?

• Are there "higher" and "lower" pleasures?

• Do immoral people just have bad luck?

• Is monogamy unethical?

• Is the existence of evil a problem for belief in God?

• Should we try to become immortal?

• Are we obligated to do much more to the world's poor?

• Is it okay to deliberately create a disabled child?

• Is it permissible to kill and eat animals?

• Should we enter the experience machine?

• Is science the only source of knowledge?

• Is what is right or wrong a matter of opinion?

• On what basis should we care about the environment?

• Can we know we are not brains in a vat?

• What is a potential person worth?

• What is gender?

• What is philosophy and how is it done?

• Is abortion morally permissible?

• Does philosophy make assumptions?

• Is evolutionary psychology a legitimate science?

• Should paid organ donation be permitted?

• Can we have knowledge without certainty?

• Is adult consensual incest always immoral?

• Is everything we do ultimately motivated by self-interest?

• Is it immoral to have children?

• Are there good arguments against objective morality?

• Should we use genetic therapies to increase intelligence?

• Is it morally permissible to select your child's race?

• Does free will require the ability to do otherwise?

• Do our lives have meaning?

• Can dating preferences be irrational or discriminatory?

• Is happiness the only thing that matters to one's well-being?

We'll be meeting in the 550 Room. Contact me by 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