Science, Philosophy, & Spirituality — Season 2
Home Page for Season 2 of the u3a course on Science, Philosophy, and Spirituality
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Issue: Religion and philosophy
Glimpses of Change: Navigating the Currents of Human History and Thought
Summary of a year’s reflection and discussion about the dynamic and evolving nature of human understanding and its impact on the world. This article has links to the summaries produced for each of the twelve topics.
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From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: Understanding and Questioning Western Intellectual History
Explore the intricate evolution of Western intellectual history in this 14-module seminar series turned article, ‘From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: A Journey through Western Thought.’ Discover how ancient Greek philosophy laid the bedrock for modern scientific inquiry, ethical frameworks, and democratic governance. Dive into pivotal moments in history, from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, and examine the challenges and opportunities posed by the Anthropocene epoch. This comprehensive overview offers thought-provoking insights into how the West’s intellectual trajectory has shaped our world, and critically assesses the future of democracy in light of emerging philosophical perspectives and real-world governance innovations.
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1.11: Scientific Naturalism
Resources on the page concern the philosophical position of scientific materialism, which asserts that the physical world is the ultimate reality and that physical processes can explain all phenomena. After our discussions on the mind and AI, we can explore different philosophical perspectives on the nature of reality and the limitations of scientific materialism in explaining subjective experiences, consciousness, and spirituality.
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1.05: The Roots of Modern Science
The roots of modern science reach backwards in time to before the great age of Greek and Hellenistic learning, and spread across Europe, Islamic empires, India and China. This article will review how the ideas of the Medieval and Renaissance periods nourished those roots.
This page contains links to resources used for Module 5 of the Shepway u3a course in Science, Philosophy and Spirituality
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