- Narrative Truth vs Factual TruthWhen did you first hear about Santa Clause? Was it from a Christmas movie, a bedtime story, or perhaps through whispers from a close friend? For many of us, the narrative of Santa Clause and his noble annual journey to bring joy to children across...
- Joining MovementsWe now live an age of nearly limitless connectivity, where trends and movements gain traction with often unpredictable levels of success and effectiveness. Because large movements can often be highly decentralized and disorganized, movements can often represent a wide range of views, altering their meaning...
- Goals of SpeechIn the simplest kind of speech, we say things to convey our beliefs about the world, and people interpret those statements as beliefs about the world. But that’s not the only way speech can be used an interpreted. Let’s call this kind of speech “Level...
- Importance of Political AwarenessMost of us living in the United States are members of the largest representative democracy in the world. Yet, in a system designed to operate with well-informed and fully engaged participants, four in ten Americans who could vote chose not to for the 2016 presidential...
- Feeling of Making a DifferenceActivists, philanthropists, and progressives. These are all people who want to reach out and change the world. It is a common desire, but it is very difficult to accomplish. Any one individual can often only make a small difference. When that goal is finally achieved,...
- Navigating Cancel CultureWe have all seen it happen before - someone with a following does something or says something wrong or hurtful, and as a consequence, support for them is completely withdrawn. Followers see their “canceling” as a way to keep those in power responsible for their...
- Discussion Links: Ambiguous LegaciesBelow are some additional links and resources compiled from our weekly discussion to aid discourse and research into this topic: Ulysses S. Grant & Francis Scott Key Statues Removing Woodrow Wilson’s Name Civil Disobedience - PGH Free Thought Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 Monument Avenue...
- Ambiguous LegaciesHow should history remember those with morally ambiguous legacies? Should we honor their accomplishments, or admonish their injustices? To what extent do the faults of these figures discredit their merits? Is it our responsibility to remove statues that idolize those with morally ambiguous or objectively...
- Civil DisobedienceThere are few stories in American history filled with as much triumph as the liberation of African Americans. After a history deeply engrained with torturous slavery and cruelty towards black Americans, centuries passed before their liberation would be achieved through one of the bloodiest wars...
- Discussion Links: Learning from Failure as a GroupBelow are some additional links and resources compiled from our weekly discussion to aid discourse and research into this topic: JK Rowling on Sex and Gender Issues Doing Good with Career Building Charity with Career Building NFL Protestors and George Floyd Police Killings Police Killings...
- Learning from Failure as a GroupThere is a saying, and as it goes, “to err is human”. In our lives, we confirm this bit of truth often, recognizing our own faults, and oversights and ways we hurt others, even sometimes without intending to. At times, it can very difficult in...
- Hedonic TreadmillThis week, we will be discussing the Hedonic Treadmill, or hedonic adaption. The concept of the hedonic treadmill is that people’s long-term happiness is not affected much by short-term positive or negative events. For instance, a 2011 study indicated that most people’s long-term happiness level...
- Discussion Links: George Floyd ProtestsBelow are some additional links and resources compiled from our weekly discussion to aid discourse and research into this topic: Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X Barack Obama on Making Real Change The Shirley Exception NFL Protestors and George Floyd Right Wing Race War White...
- George Floyd ProtestsMeeting to discuss the heartbreaking tragedy of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police brutality, and the social revolution resulting from his death.
- Teaching Children ReligionWhen were you first exposed to religion? Was it in primary school, high school, or college? Or did it occur much earlier at home? More often than not, exposure to religion occurs at a very young age from a child’s parents or guardians, particularly in...
- Do Minds Have Immune Systems?Do our minds have systems that protect us from mind-parasites? The answer, surprisingly enough, is yes. Moreover, the parasites in question are nothing other than bad ideas. In this talk, philosopher Andy Norman will preview the argument of his forthcoming book. He’ll demonstrate that mental...
- Pale Blue DotOn February 14th, 1990, the vehicle-sized flagship of human engineering, known as Voyager 1, swiveled its camera towards a spec in the distance to catch one last glance. As it exited the solar system, it stared for almost a second before saving the memory and...
- Loving the OutgroupOutgroup negativity is the flip side of ingroup favoritism, both well-studied psychological concepts. The theory goes that humans tend to divide ourselves based on certain traits, developing biases towards people similar to us and against different people. As a consequence, people have the capacity to...
- Competitive PredictionPredicting the future is an intensely difficult endeavor. Most of the time, when we want to predict the future, we consult an expert in the specific area that we want to predict. However, there is another possible approach: Find people who are generically good at...
- Information BubblesAn information bubble is created when the ways in which people gain information about the world are correlated and interlinked. As a result, people will only find out a limited subset of the information out there, and may never find evidence contradicting their prior beliefs....
- Is US Democracy on Life Support?The United States is one of the world’s longest and most successful democracies, persisting through world crises, power shifts, and world realignments. However, US politics is more polarized now than ever before - electoral voting patterns typically consist of “My party’s candidate above all else”,...
- Productivity MindsetHello there! Those of us at the Humanist League hope you are finding peace and moments of light during this time. What a wonderful discussion last week about the meaning of community during this time of social distancing, and ways to remain grounded and perhaps...
- Human Connection During Social IsolationThis week’s topic is on Human Connection during Social Isolation. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of us are undergoing social isolation. We can’t make physical contact with anyone outside our houses, we can’t even get too close to anyone. While this is essential to...
- TaboosA taboo is a societal prohibition on an action or topic of discussion. Any attempt to discuss the idea or take the action is met with severe social opprobrium, shunning, and often even worse consequences. Some taboos are automatic - people shun the action or...
- AnxietyIn the nascent days of our species, life was less tranquil. Our daily lives were occupied by threats of hunger, predators, natural disasters, and other predators. So our genes adapted to the environment, developing a special mode for threatening situations. Designed to keep us alert...
- PolyamoryPolyamory consists of multiple overlapping intimate relationships, with the consent of all concerned. The extent of these relationships can range from casual dating to long-term marriage. Some polyamorous setups consist of a primary two-person relationship and other secondary relationships, while others consist of a group...
- Evolution of ReligionLast Wednesday, James Croft, the Outreach Director of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, came to speak about the evolution of religion, and the formation of secular moral communities. He discussed the ancient origins of religion, what religions provide to the people who follow them,...
- The Existance of GodThroughout recorded history, humans have searched for God. From localized deities to religions as far-reaching as Christianity, people drew on life experiences, anecdotal stories, and their own faith to explain the world around them. Philosophers’ struggles with free will and metaphysics often led them to...
- What Does Morality Look Like Without God?A large fraction of people are religious: about 80% of adults in the United States, for instance. For those people, religion, God and morality are often deeply intertwined. On the other hand, many people are not religious, and non-religious people similarly have a strong sense...
- 2019 Fall Fishbowl and FeedbackWe’re having our final Humanist League meeting of the year. Half the meeting will consist of fishbowl topics: suggestions from the audience that will be discussed for a shorter time. Half the meeting will consist of feedback, on what the club did well and poorly,...
- Molding Children's LivesAn important role of a parent in a child’s life is to lead them in the right direction and to be happy and successful. But “the right direction” or being “successful” may not look like the same thing for every person. And many times, the...
- HL Reflection: Seeking Help and Self RelianceWhen we encounter difficult situations in our lives, there are two routes we can take: We can attempt to handle the situation on our own, with the resources at our own disposal, or we can reach out to others for help. The question gets harder...
- New Ways of CommunicatingThe rise of the internet has seen a variety of new ways of receiving information and communicating. Social media allows and encourages people to show what they’re up to, and have conversations, all in a maximally public setting. These conversations can look very different than...
- HL Reflection: Content DistractionContent distraction: The tendency to get caught up in following some kind of engaging content, whether social media, internet articles, watching TV, etc. Often, the content can be engaging even when it isn’t enjoyable or constructive, leading us down an undesirable path in how we...
- Finding Truth in a Polarized WorldThis evening, Jonathan Haidt spoke for our annual Sagan day, to discuss the growingly polarized society we have found ourselves in. This week at the Humanist League, we’ll be discussing Dr. Haidt’s lecture. If you had a chance to here him speak, come share your...
- Ethical FrameworksWhat do Ted Bundy and pouring your milk before your Frosted Flakes™ have in common? If you said cereal/serial, you would be incorrect. The correct answer is that both Ted Bundy’s actions and carelessly splashing milk all over your families mahogany table like a psychopath,...
- Should You Give Money to Homeless People?I’m sure most of us have run into similar situations when in populated areas: someone on the street asks you for money, someone who maybe smells a little like booze or maybe other substances. Is it your business how they use your spare change? After...
- Are Emotions Neede to Make Moral DecisionsSome believe emotions are required to make moral decisions because not doing so could lead to many problems being overlooked and could ultimately cause greater harm than anticipated. They may also believe it is extremely difficult, as humans, to truly separate emotions from our rationale....
- Do We Have a Duty To Feel Emotions?Emotions are a really, really important thing. They somehow find their way into our faces, our bodies, our conversations, and sometimes our tweets. Humans take in stimulus, and then project to fellow animals how we’ve reacted to that stimulus internally, plastering it externally for all...
- HL Reflection: Self WorthWhat makes us feel worthy or valuable, where do we get that feeling from, and how do we get it back if we’ve lost it?
- Straw Man ArgumentEvery time I go home during break, my mom says “You’re looking skinny! Are you eating enough? Are you stressed?” And I generally say something like “What, do you want me to get fat, Mom?” This wonderful tidbit from my life (which you probably didn’t...
- HL Reflection: Ghosting PeopleWhen is it appropriate, when is it just an easy way out, how should you feel/act on the receiving end?
- Morality Under UncertaintyWhen we make decisions, we almost always do so under conditions where we do not know the full ramifications of our actions. If I donate money to a beggar, I don’t know whether the beggar is as badly off as they seem, I don’t know...
- Biases For/Against InstitutionsAfter numerous controversial police shootings in 2013, two political groups rose to the forefront of activism. First Black Lives Matter began to protest police brutality towards black Americans, and later the Blue Lives Matter movement rose in support of police. Both movements represented the extreme...
- Climate ChangeThe last century has seen unprecedented improvements worldwide. The industrial revolution handed humanity godlike abilities. Higher life expectancy and standard of living, coupled with a surge in consumer products, medicines, the internet, and (best of all) memes, has led to the most prosperous time in...
- HL Reflection: Reflection + Fish BowlJoin us Friday for the last Friday meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time reflecting on Friday meetings which we implemented this year. It will also be a good opportunity to hear your feedback on these meetings specifically,...
- Reflection + Fish BowlJoin us Wednesday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time collectively reflecting on what Humanist League has done this past semester. It will also be a good opportunity to hear feedback from you on how...
- HL Reflection: Ways to Practice LoveThere’s no shortage of complexities in relationships with others. Maintaining and improving your relationship with someone else is an active and open process. In building and growing bonds with other people, communication is a vital tool, but the way we express affection and love is...
- PosthumanismAt the beginning of this semester we had the discussion of “What is Humanism” and in closing it seems appropriate to talk about posthumanism, or what the evolution of humanistism might be. Posthumanism is similar to humanism in many ways, it seeks to establish a...
- HL Reflection: Grades, Learning, or Getting ByAs students, we have many different demands on our time and effort. Even within academics, we are pulled in many directions. Pulled towards getting better grades, pulled towards learning more knowledge, pulled towards taking more classes, or pulled in other directions. How have you been...
- AbortionRecently in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law the “heartbeat bill,” a piece of legislation which restricts abortions to before six weeks, except in cases where the mother’s life is at risk. This law follows a New York bill signed into law by Governor...
- Lutheran Student Group Joint MeetingJoin us in Wean 5409 at 4:30pm today for a joint discussion with the Lutheran Student Group! Some of the topics we have prepared are “What are your fundamental beliefs?”, “To what extent do you identify a person by their actions?”, and “What does Christianity...
- Effective Political ConversationPolitics has never been easy, however it seems to have been getting harder and harder in some ways, particularly in having constructive discourse between opposing viewpoints. Many have been left disheartened by the inability of our politicians to hold constructive debate and dialogue between each...
- HL Reflection: What to do when you're wrong?There are many different ways that people react when they realize their opinion (moral or factual) is wrong. Some continue to argue for that point, or some will admit that they are wrong and retract their statement. Ideally, all people should have the latter reaction,...
- AI and CapitalismAs humans get displaced by robots, how is the overall economic system supposed to work? Who will be the customers of the products produced by cavernous automated factories? At the end of the 20th century, the story was that humans would be the roboticists. But...
- Religious FreedomAccording to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, “[…] religious freedom is the right to believe or not believe as one’s conscience leads, and live out one’s beliefs openly, peacefully, and without fear.” During the early formation of the U.S. Federal Government, the...
- HL Reflection: Self CareSelf care is, “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.” Some popular examples are practicing mindfulness, having a strong focus on eating healthy, and giving yourself breaks and/or rewards when achieving a...
- Gender NormsGender norms are the ways that we are expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our biological sex. For example, women have typically been expected to be polite, accommodating, and nurturing, while men are generally expected to be strong, aggressive, and...
- Coercing People to Do the Right ThingSome people if given the opportunity will do the right thing out of the kindness of their hearts, but not everyone will. Given that all else being equal we would prefer that people do the right thing, when is it appropriate to coerce them to...
- HL Reflection: Why do you do the right thing?Do you pick up garbage off the street when no one is looking? Do you donate to good causes anonymously? Do you do good deeds even when there is no obvious reward, besides a warm fuzzy feeling inside? What motivates you to take these actions?...
- VeganismVeganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Vegans believe that our consumption choices can have a positive impact on...
- HL Reflection: Belief SystemsBeliefs sit somewhere between knowledge and speculation, but coming to understand just what beliefs are and more importantly, how we come to them is difficult. Belief systems are even more complex, and are often informed by our culture, friends, and family. They are usually defined...
- Moral Agency of InstitutionsInstitutions: Governments, Corporations, non-profits, churches and more. They act in the world enacting changes often on a much larger scale than any individual is capable, in many ways they are the driving forces of our world. We assign these actions moral value, companies are able...
- Limits of SkepticismWe generally agree that a healthy degree of Skepticism is warranted in all or most situations, but how can we tell if a degree of skepticism is “healthy” or “unhealthy”? Taking everything you are told at face value, ignoring everything you are told out of...
- What is Humanism?Humanism dates back to the Renaissance, and at its heart describes a paradigm shift in human reason starting in the 14th century. Humanism came to describe the new way people thought about the world and their place in it, and was marked by the belief...
- Fishbowl MeetingWelcome back after the long weekend! Join us this Friday at 4:30 in PH A19 for a relaxed discussion on a variety of topics! Instead of having a specific topic beforehand, we will have an open discussion about any topics the group would like to...
- Reflection & FeedbackJoin us Wednesday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time collectively reflecting on what Humanist League has done this past semester. It will also be a good opportunity to hear feedback from you on how...
- Obligations to a Specific FutureWe think of obligations that we have to people in the present as a rather straight forward concept. For example, one might say that a parent has an obligation to her child to provide that child a good education. Because the parent has such an...
- Dennett Post-Event DiscussionLast week during our annual Carl Sagan Day Fest, Dr. Daniel Dennett spoke to us about free will, consciousness, and autonomy. He discussed the concept of free will, and the various philosophical interpretations and theories it is entangled with. Finally asserting that we do have...
- When is Hate Speech Free Speech?Free speech is important for encouraging discourse, fostering the exchange of new ideas, preventing suppression, and preserving other individual freedoms. However, at what point, if any, does free speech and hate speech need a distinction? Should any speech be limited? What if it is rallying...
- Should We Live Forever?The fountain of youth, a special elixir, uploading your consciousness to the cloud– human kind has come up with various legends, beliefs, and new ideas on how to extend our lives forever. Despite our obsession with extending life and avoiding death is a natural one, death...
- Having No OpinionWe are often asked our opinion of issues on which we are not well informed. When this happens, what are we to do? Often times our answer is to form an opinion based on what little we have heard about the issue. Is it good...
- Social Remedies to Unethical BehaviorWhen people do things that society disapproves of or finds unethical, the standard solution is a system of laws backed up by force. However, there can be unethical behavior that a legal system does not or cannot enforce well. In these situations, a community might...
- Purpose of LifeWhat is the purpose of life? An age old question pondered since the first philosophers, and widely debated ever since. Everyone lives their life, working toward goals and completing the tasks they have set out for themselves, but occasionally we stop and wonder, does any...
- Identity in SocietyIdentity is the features that are essential to a person, make that person unique, and which place that person in social and cultural groups. Identities can be high-profile, including gender, nationality, age, religion and race, or more idiosyncratic, such as sports team affiliation, hobbies or...
- Obligations of EmployersThe relationship between employers and employees can be a complicated one. The type and size of the company someone works for can heavily influence the experience they have there. Some companies operate with a such a tall management hierarchy that many times regular employees many...
- Ethics of IncarcerationIncarceration for the purpose of exacting vengeance against citizens has been a mainstay of human societies for millennia. Modern states currently rely heavily on incarceration as a consequence of conviction, but an ongoing shift in ethical thinking is beginning to challenge this use of incarceration....
- Letting Go of OpinionsWhen we are confronted with facts and discussions that challenge our established opinions and beliefs, sometimes we find that this new information is hard to entertain, let alone accept. Occasionally, the opinions that we have are very important to us and our sense of right...
- AkrasiaOur first meeting of the semester will be 4:30pm on Friday the 7th in Wean 5312! There is no meeting on Wednesday due to a time conflict with the activities fair. Akrasia is the situation of acting against one’s better judgement. Examples of akrasia in...
- Reflection & FeedbackJoin us Monday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time collectively reflecting on what Humanist League has done this past semester. It will also be a good opportunity to hear feedback from you on how...
- Psychoactive DrugsPsychoactive drugs are chemical substances that alter one’s mental state, often leading to altered perceptions, moods, and behaviors. Some psychoactive drugs include Psilocybin Mushrooms, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Cannabis, Tobacco, MDMA, Benadryl, Zyban, and Alcohol. The effects of psychoactive substance vary dramatically, from only mild...
- The #MeToo MovementThe Me Too movement (or “#MeToo”) is a hashtag used to express solidarity in experiencing sexual assault and to demonstrate the prevalence of sexual misconduct in modern society. The phrase was previously used in this context by Tarana Burke in 2006 and was popularized by...
- Toxic MasculinityToxic Masculinity refers to pressure applied against men by themselves or others to fulfill harmful male gender roles, such as dominance, social and sexual aggression, emotional invulnerability, and complete self-reliance. Pressure to perform in these roles causes direct harm to men and indirect harm to...
- Altruistic ObligationAltruism, or the practice of increasing another’s well being at the expense of one’s own, is thought of as a noble act above and beyond the call of duty in most situations. But in certain situations many of us feel obligated to behave altruistically, such...
- The Future of EducationDue to the incredible changes in technology during this “age of information”, the Future of Education is uncertain. Some parts of the world still use chalk boards and paper administration, and confiscate electronics if they are visible in the classroom. Other parts of the world...
- The Morality of PornThe morality of porn is a contentious topic for a variety of reasons. Porn production, religious beliefs, and perceived positive or negative effects on oneself or others (among other reasons) can all play a role in personal and philosophical positions on whether porn is good...
- The Ethics of the Art MarketThe art market is currently booming. Last November the record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction was shattered by Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” selling for $450.3 Million. However increasingly many of these great works of art go right into storage as...
- Human ExtinctionMany believe that the human species, and all of its accompanying knowledge, will die one day. Why? Some argue the probability that we make a fatal mistake is high enough that we must eventually succumb to it. Others think that humanity is inherently unjust, and...
- Truth vs. FalsehoodIn our every waking moment, and even in some sleeping ones, we must distinguish between what is true, and what is not. How do you determine whether your sensations reflect reality? How do you criticize the ideas that pop into your head? What do you...
- Goals of ParentingWhat are the goals of parenting? Some parents plan and make active decisions about when and how to have children, while another large percentage of the population does not. What values or guidelines should we be using to raise children? Virtually every parent wants the...
- AddictionAddiction is a continued craving for the performance of a rewarding activity despite adverse consequences. It is often a reaction to stress or specific sets of environmental cues. This is different from dependence, which is when cessation of a rewarding behavior causes withdrawal symptoms. For...
- Social AnarchismSocial anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates self-governed societies based on voluntary institutions. These are often described as stateless societies, or non-hierarchical associations as opposed to institutions. Anarchism holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful. While social anarchism is just one of...
- What is the purpose of laws?The vast majority of societies have had laws of some nature, indicating that humans generally find them necessary to the operation of a society. In some cases, these laws have been for the benefit of those they govern, like property laws, and in other cases,...
- Winter Book Club: The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin!Thanks to everyone who filled out the poll! The winner is The Dispossessed, by Ursula Le Guin! So grab yourself a copy of the book and read it over the winter break. We will then spend our first meeting back from break discussing the book,...
- Reflection & FeedbackJoin us this Monday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time collectively reflecting on what Humanist League has done this past semester. It will also be a good opportunity to hear feedback from you on...
- UtilitarianismUtilitarianism is a consequentialist moral theory, meaning the core to determining what is right and wrong depends on the effects of each action we take. Utilitarians believe that the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the amount of good things (which...
- Universal Basic IncomeUniversal Basic Income (UBI) is a fixed amount, at a level sufficient for subsistence, given by the state to all citizens regardless of income or work status. It would cost the government $1.5 trillion to distribute $10 billion to only children and US citizens earning...
- Dawkins Post-Event Discussion!Thanks to everyone who came to Carl Sagan Fest 2017 featuring Richard Dawkins! If you weren’t able to make it, or if you want watch it all again, we have the video recording uploaded! In our last email we sent out a poll for the...
- Affirmative ActionAffirmative action has become increasingly more controversial over the past couple decades. One of the more recent examples can be found in the case, Fisher vs. University of Texas at Austin, in which Abigail Fisher sued the university claiming it was not granting her admission...
- Ethics of social mediaThe past decade has seen the rise of social media on an unprecedented scale. Only 13 years ago was Facebook started and today over a quarter of the world population is on the platform. Social media has impacted the way in which we connect and...
- Assisted SuicideProponents of assisted suicide think that being able to plan their own deaths helps people with unmitigatable suffering or high near-term chances of death regain control (or at least the feeling of control) over their lives. Proponents also think that planned deaths can help improve...
- Effective AltruismEffective altruism is a system of using high-quality evidence and careful reasoning to work out how much good from each resource is possible. But how can you really measure your donation’s effectiveness? Take for example how when we choose to go about choosing the right...
- How should we define religion?What is religion? What systems should we use to classify something as a religion? Most theological scholars would define religion as any system of belief or worship. While others may say that believing in a supernatural power or powers is what fundamentally makes something a...
- Are humans morally different from animals?What is the difference between humans and animals? Biologically or psychologically, the differences are immediately apparent: humans have unmatched language, rationality, adaptability, cooperation, and accomplishments. However, less obvious to many is the existence of a moral difference between humans and other animals. Many argue that...
- Religious NaturalismFor centuries, it has seemed to many that we must choose between the realism of a secular worldview and the comforts of a religious worldview. But what if we could have both? Suppose we combined the idea that nature is probably all there is (“naturalism”)...
- What would your Utopia look like?From the more Utopian visions of a world like in Star Trek, Her, or Sir Thomas More’s Utopia which coined the term Utopia. To the more Dystopian visions of Blade Runner, The Hunger Games, or Orwell’s 1984. We have often thought of what our ideal...
- FishbowlJoin us this Monday for a relaxed discussion on a variety of topics! Instead of having a specific topic beforehand, we will have an open discussion about any topics the group would like to discuss. So come to the meeting with a few interesting ideas...
- Book Club: Ancillary Justice by Ann LeckieWe hope you’ve enjoyed reading Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie for our summer book club. Please join us for our first informal meeting of the year this Tuesday at 4:30 pm to talk about the book and catch up on any summer happenings. You don’t...
- Open Topic: Food and FeedbackJoin us this Monday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will have an open discussion about any topics the group would like to discuss and collectively reflect on what Humanist League has done this past semester. What have...
- Identity PoliticsWe identify ourselves as belonging to many different different groups, and every group that we belong to informs our behaviors and decisions. But when should being part of a group dictate your political decisions? Can a White working class American and a Transgender African American...
- Is wealth immoral?In a capitalist system, people can earn large amounts of money in a variety of ways (both moral and immoral), and once they pay their taxes, they can use or retain it however they wish. The predominate view in such a system is that these...
- What should you want?As opportunities to decide what to want become more frequent, it becomes more necessary to fully develop a moral framework founded on objective principles with implications for what we should want. One field where we can find such principles is epistemology (the study of knowledge),...
- Is morality objective?Almost everyone acts and justifies their actions based on the assumption that morality is worth following. The moral foundations people use to justify their actions and with which they plan out courses of action differ, but fundamentally most people have the intuition that some actions...
- Should YOU have kids?Many people decide from an early age that their future includes creating and raising children of their own. Raising children is seen as a long-term investment in both the community’s future and your own future. The moral choice to create children may be justified by...
- Free WillWhat is free will? One conception of free will is that it is the ability to have done otherwise. In other words, someone has free will if their choices are “free” – there is nothing biasing the choice towards one option or another. This means...
- Social JusticeSocial justice fundamentally deals with an individual’s relation to society and whether individuals have a just standing in society. So naturally, we talk of social justice with regards to those in society who are worse off in some way as compared to others in society....
- Constructive Political DiscoursePolitics has never been easy, however it seems to have been getting harder and harder in some ways, particularly in having constructive discourse between opposing viewpoints. Many have been left disheartened by the inability of our politicians to hold constructive debate and dialogue between each...
- What is the Purpose of Education?In today’s society, education is valued to a certain extent. Primary and secondary education is mandated for all by law, ensuring every US citizen goes to school for at least twelve years of their life. However, why is this mandated? What purpose of education is...
- How to combat implicit biasImplicit biases are unconscious effects that cause errors in our thinking. The negative effects of these errors are quite apparent in our thinking about other people – they contribute to pernicious structural racism and sexism. Thus it is in our interest to create and implement...
- What beings are morally significant?When considering the morality of an action, one often considers the impact it will have on the affected beings. These beings would be considered morally significant if the effect of an action on them changes the morality of the action. Although the action is discussed...
- Philosophical IdentityIdentity is the philosophical term for what makes something itself, and not something else. For example, Samuel L. Jackson’s identity is what makes Samuel L. Jackson Samuel L. Jackson, and not Nick Fury, Denzel Washington, or LaTanya Richardson. The question is, how do we define...
- Feedback MeetingJoin us this Thursday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time collectively reflecting on what Humanist League has done this past semester. It will also be a good opportunity to hear feedback from you on...
- Self DeterminationEvery day, we make large and small decisions that influence our lives, and it is important to most people to have some level of control over their own future. However, we often don’t have control, or we forfeit control to others, be they our parents,...
- State of the UniversityFaith and Reason As voted on in last week’s meeting, we will be attending the State of the University discussion this week in lieu of our regular meeting. This event is 4:30-6:30pm on Thursday in Doherty A302, and the topic is how faith fits into...
- Is democracy the best?Americans often use the noun “democracy” to refer to the style of government that defines a republic. This style of government consists of two parts – an uncensored public discourse in which all people participate in, and the replacement of governments by voters in elections....
- Is free speech overrated?Free speech is important for encouraging discourse, preventing suppression, and preserving individual freedoms. However, at what point does free speech begin impinging on other more substantive freedoms? Last year, the Charlie Hebdo office was attacked in response to controversial depictions of Muhammad, resulting in 12...
- Rise of the "Nones"The “nones” are a demographic group characterized by a lack of religious identification, called “nones” by their response to the question: What religion do you identify with? Perhaps you might answer such a question with “none” too, in which case you would be counted as...
- Criminal PunishmentWhat defines a criminal? Should committing one crime mark someone as a criminal forever? Does a given crime necessarily deserve a given punishment? Is the purpose of a punishment to restore justice or to deter a repeat offense? By necessity, the law must make some...
- Business as a Social ServiceWhen you think of entities that provide social services, businesses don’t often come to mind. Usually you may think of non-profits and government organizations who have explicit missions to provide a social service. However does any and every business, simply by virtue of existing within...
- Responsible BeliefEveryone has beliefs, and our beliefs affect our lives by guiding our actions and emotional states. These beliefs can have profound consequences on human behavior and conflict, as some beliefs conflict or motivate believers to action. Is there a moral imperative to seek out evidence...
- Ethics of Assisted SuicideProponents of assisted suicide think that being able to plan their own deaths helps people with unmitigatable suffering or high near-term chances of death regain control (or at least the feeling of control) over their lives. Proponents also think that planned deaths can help improve...
- Should happiness be the goal of government?Governments greatly influence the way their citizens live, feel, and act, and the laws made by the government impact its citizens’ happiness. For example, in the 1920s the US government made its citizens unhappy when alcohol became illegal, while in 2015 the LGBTQ citizens of...
- What do we owe future generations?We all have clear intuitions about our moral relations to people who did, do, and will exists. But what about people who could exist? Are we obligated to create them because we can? If so, how many? How do we weigh our own needs and...
- Two Part Meeting TomorrowBrainstorm Topics for the Semester For the first 45 minutes of tomorrow’s meeting we’ll be having an informal discussion on what topics we would like to discuss over the course of the semester. Perhaps you heard something over the summer that piqued your interest and...
- Final Meeting! Feedback + SnacksIt’s the end of the year, and we want your opinions! What was your favorite HL event this year? What can we do better? What do you want to see more of? Come hang out and let us know what you want HL to be!...
- Immigration Ethics + PolicyDo countries have an obligation to accept immigrants or refugees? The EU is facing an enormous problem in dealing with the recent surge of immigrants from middle eastern countries. One recent proposal by the EU will allow Greece to begin sending back refugees that arrive...
- Incarceration EthicsMost Americans today are familiar with the prison and criminal justice system, and the United States has the greatest incarceration rate in the world, but what is the philosophy behind our prison system? Is it supposed to be punitive or reformative? Have we developed a...
- DespairWhat do we do about it? At the beginning of the semester, we hosted a film screening (“A Better Life”) about how atheists find joy and meaning in life, but one of the primary criticisms of atheism is that it doesn’t provide hope to people...
- What is Art?Is it the creation of beautiful things? Is it to evoke emotional responses? Is it the artist’s self expression? Is the art piece valuable in itself, or does the creator’s fame, effort, or intention play a central role? Does it even matter what Art is?...
- Special Guest: Damon Young!Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Writer and Very Smart Brothas Blogger This meeting, we are having Pittsburgh’s own Damon Young join us for discussion! He is a writer and activist, and we’ve invited Damon to educate and discuss with us the complexity of race relations in America today....
- Privacy and SurveillanceWhere is the line? With the ever-growing power of technology, the line between public and private is getting blurry. How far is too far when it come to privacy and surveillance? How many of you have heard “If you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing...
- Ethics of IndoctrinationIt’s okay as long as you’re teaching the right ideas… Every parent wants to prepare their children for the world, and that includes worldview and moral education. But how far is too far when it comes to indoctrination? Religious groups push for their views to...
- Fundamentalism Part 2: Practical ConcernsLast week we looked at the roots and causes of fundamentalism and how it can lead to violence. This week we will discuss how to culturally combat fundamentalism. How we approach the issue of fundamentalism and who we choose to empower or blame has a...
- Violent fundamentalism“Fundamentalism is characterized by a markedly strict literalism as applied to certain specific scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies, and a strong sense of the importance of maintaining ingroup and outgroup distinctions.” The recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernadino, along with the attacks on a...
- Do Atheists Live "A Better Life"?At our film screening of “A Better Life” this past Tuesday, we saw some ways that atheists find joy and meaning in life. The people interviewed talked about relationships with others, finding our place in a larger story, and how non-religious people think about death...
- This Week: Humanism in Pop CultureStories help people tell each other who we are and what we value. Recently, pop culture has seen a resurgence in epic and mythological storytelling, whether it be about super-powered heroes, alien invasions, or the ancient clashes between forces of good and evil. These stories...
- Book Club: Catch 22The poll has spoken and discussion meetings for the semester will be held on Mondays at 4:30. Join us for the first meeting of the year today, at our new room Wean 5312. We will catch up and also chat informally about the book we...
- Feedback Meeting + Elections!Join us this Tuesday for the last meeting of the semester! Instead of a specific topic, we will spend the time collectively reflecting on what Humanist League has done this past semester. It will also be a good opportunity to hear feedback from you on...
- The Value/Meaning of WorkThe society in which we all live seems to revolve around this idea that individuals must work. But why? Wouldn’t life be better without all the stress of having to worry about finding a job and and making a living doing that job almost every...
- Fishbowl this week!Since many people will be out of town, we’re just having a fishbowl meeting for whoever’s still around. This means short discussions drawn out of the bowl on smaller (but still thought-provoking!) topics. Since it’s more relaxed, people can also suggest any topic they like...
- Science vs. PseudoscienceAt Friday’s Carl Sagan Fest, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci addressed the age old question of what distinguishes science from pseudoscience. Instinctively, most of us tend to recognize many practices such as astrology, numerology and intelligent design as pseudoscience, but other practices are more difficult to diagnose....
- Western CentrismGreat social advancement has occurred in the West since the Renaissance, and spread to the East and global South in more recent times. Modern forms of democracy and human rights can often be traced to European traditions. Non-Western societies have been adopting many of the...
- Dark Science: Ethics in ScienceScientific advances in the 20th century brought humanity unprecedented benefits in how we live our lives. However, science and technology can also have a dark side in it’s effects. Nuclear proliferation and environmental degradation are among the greatest challenges we face. Ethical issues remain in...
- Mindfulness and MeditationA practical session + discussion So what’s the deal with meditation anyway? A growing body of research, including here at CMU, suggests that meditation leads to a variety of health benefits such as managing psychological stress, depression and anxiety. However, it is rooted in ancient...
- Evidence Based MoralityMore than just gut feelings and authorities Humanists strive to build moral beliefs that are well grounded in reality. We carefully examine the effects of our actions and decisions: avoiding what harms, and doing what benefits. We understand that gut feelings and authorities may not...
- EpistemologyHow do we know what we know? This is perhaps a very broad topic, and I’m certain we could talk about it for hours, so for a more directed conversation, we’ll try to focus on these questions: what are the different ways of knowing? Are...
- How do we combat apathy?…and should we? As people, and particularly as students, we constantly have people telling us how we should spend our time and money and what we should care about. And organizers for any particular cause are always struggling to get people involved! Is it because...
- TranshumanismTranscending and transforming what it means to be human We have the technology to change ourselves for the better, just take a look at modern medicine. But how much change is too much? People have inserted magnets near their nerves to be able to “sense”...
- DeathFrom a secular perspective Death is a topic that secular people often have a hard time discussing, especially in times of grief, because it’s not very comforting to think that there’s nothing after death. But people who don’t believe in an afterlife continually find meaning...
- Why be good to other people?Product of evolution, or more? Apple Siri and Google Now speak politely and kindly to us, not because they (who’s they?) truly feel so, but because their goal of existence is to assist humans, and being kind is a means to that end. We humans...
- First Meeting Tomorrow!A Casual Fish Bowl to Start the Year Since our first meeting (Sept. 8th) is happening before the activities fair, we’re gonna take it easy, hang out, catch up, and have a fish bowl meeting. For those of you unfamiliar with the format, a fish...
- End-of-Year Fishbowl Meeting!Just come and chat about random questions! It’s the last meeting of the school year. To conclude, we will have another Fishbowl Meeting, where we discuss (for as long/short as we want) short questions gathered from members. It’ll be fun!
- HumanismA Discussion and Presentation by Akshat Gupta How do we know if a particular perspective is Humanistic? Does Humanism necessitate atheism? Do Humanists need to care about social justice and why? Isn’t everyone already a Humanist? In this presentation, Akshat will attempt to answer some...
- Afterlife HypotheticalsPurgatory, Karma, digitised consciousness, or nothing… Abrahamic religions hold that the afterlife consists of a Heaven, a Hell, and a Purgatory. Eastern religions believe in a cycle of karmic reincarnation. Ancient mythologies maintained that there exists a god that rules an underworld, or that some...
- Sciences and HumanitiesA gap in funding and public perception The works of Einstein and Hawking are often thought of as the pinnacle of the human intellect. (XKCD comic) Yet in the public sphere, people are often expected to know more about history and the arts, than about...
- Is mathematics (hu)manmade?Is it discovered or invented? When natural scientists like Archimedes ran naked on the streets of Syracuse, he proclaimed “Eureka!” (I’ve found it.) But what should mathematicians proclaim when they complete the proof to a profound theorem? “I’ve found it,” or “I’ve made it?” Is...
- Faith in a Scientific WorldviewShould faith impact scientific understanding? Can scientific understanding diminish faith? Some people think that science and faith deal with different aspects of inquiry, and do not overlap with or contradict each other (Stephen Jay Gould’s non-overlapping magisteria). Others think that the two do overlap in...
- Race and Criminal JusticeThe Justice Department recently released a report on its investigations into the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, and also the practices of the Ferguson police department. They found the practices of the police department heavily focused on “collecting revenue” for the city’s coffers, which...
- Fishbowl MeetingIn the past week, we gathered a fishbowl full of short questions (thought provoking or otherwise) from the Humanist Leaguers. This meeting, we’ll pick out questions from the Fishbowl, and open the floor to a free flow of ideas and responses. It’s going to be...
- EuthanasiaCan you “waive” your right to life? As Canada overturns its ban on euthanasia, how can we deal with the moral quandary of “assisted suicide”? Does pain and suffering justify the termination of life? Should a patient’s family and doctor respect his/her wish to die?...
- RationalityAs humanists, we try to be rational in our worldview and beliefs. But psychology tells us that we aren’t rational, and it doesn’t seem likely we’ll ever be fully rational. To what extent should we use rationality to make decisions, and how rational should we...
- Privilege“If you don’t have to think about it, it’s privilege.” It’s all too easy to look at our immediate surroundings and conclude, “inequality due to race, gender and sexuality is pretty much gone.” We often forget that we live in a privileged bubble surrounded by...
- Violence and Social ChangeWhen if ever is violence justified? Few social changes can happen without a stir, and stakes are high. From the liberation of slaves to the independence of India, people were constantly torn between peaceful negotiations and violent uprisings. To fight against tyranny, is it sometimes...
- Anthropocentrism and SpeciesismDifficult to pronounce, but what do we think about them? It is inevitable to think of “us” before “others”, but with the belief of equality, humanists have extended our compassion to outside of our family, our creed and our race. But wait… We are just...
- Freedom of SpeechAre there limits and how best to defend it. In the shadow of recent events in Paris, we have seen millions of people marching for the freedom of speech across France, chanting Je Suis Charlie. On the other hand, journalists and even the Pope have...
- A New Year for HLHappy New Year Thanks to all of you for an amazing semester at Humanist League. We’ve discussed topics ranging from mental health to economic inequality, hosted four speaker events, and had a bunch of get-togethers and dinners. This would not have been possible without your...
- Last meeting of 2014!Snacks and reflection As we approach the end of 2014, why don’t we relax and look back on this busy yet fruitful semester for Humanist League? What did you enjoy? What disappointed you? What could we have done better? What should we do next? Let’s...
- What is the meaning of Christmas?From pagan to Christian; from Christian to commercial… (As many people travel home for Thanksgiving break, we shall defer the topic of speciesism to a later date, since it is such a popular topic.) More than 150 countries and regions recognise Christmas as an official...
- Economic InequalityIt is not difficult to see that income inequality in America has risen to historic highs (check out this Wikipedia article). According to Robert Reich in the acclaimed documentary Inequality for All, this not only lowers the financial well-being of American families, but also undermines...
- Scientific Spirituality?“All great aesthetic and spiritual sensations: transcendence, awe, wonder, bliss, are not diminished, but are enhanced by taking a naturalistic view of the universe. By ruthlessly purging what is false, and relentlessly pursuing what is true, Science, far from being the enemy of spirituality as...
- Cultural ApproprationCultural exchange and transfer between societies has been occurring since the dawn of humanity. Some argue that when a culture which has oppressed another or is dominant over another “borrows” something from another culture, it is an unacceptable form of cultural appropriation. One example is...
- Artificial Intelligence“Success in creating A.I. would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.” - Stephen Hawking Films and novels warning us of the potential harms artificial intelligence are certainly not lacking....
- Sexual HarassmentA Presentation by Gina Casalegno, Dean of Student Affairs The university updated the policies on sexual harassment last September. The dean of student affairs, Gina Casalegno, is very keen on receiving some feedback from the student community. She will be giving a short presentation at...
- Intro to Christian HumanismA Brief History Followed by a Lengthy Discussion What is the human person? What can we learn from the ancient Greek philosophers? What does Christian humanism look like in the world today? The history of humanism is intertwined with that of religion, and our members...
- The meaning in lifeIf we are star-stuff, what gives us meaning in life? The great physicist Richard Feynman likened humans to “Atoms With Consciousness, Matter With Curiosity”. Is there some inherent meaning to life? How do we find out what that is? What determines the value of life,...
- Mental healthAccording to the UN, 1 in 4 globally will experience mental health problems in their lifetime, and almost one million people die every year due to suicide. How are these people treated in the US and worldwide? What sorts of stigma do people have regarding...
- How free should speech be?Many legal systems hold the freedom of speech to the highest regard. But free speech is not free from consequences. Should employees who made racist or sexist comments be fired? Does this form of punishment contradict the spirit of free speech? Should hate speech be...
- Science and MoralityScience without morality is lame. Morality without science is blind. – a paraphrase on Einstein Can science answer moral questions? If so, how? Will the use of science lead to a single definitive answer to every moral dilemma?
- What is Humanism?Reason + Compassion = Human flourishing Every year we try to ask our members what humanism means to them, and perhaps finally give a succinct definition of humanism. Is it the end of tribalism? Does it have to be non-religious? How does it treat the...
- Last MeetingAs the semester comes to an end, we will be having our final meeting this Tuesday. While we have pizzas and drinks, we will just chat and reflect on our achievements in what is only the second year of the Humanist League. We look forward...
- The long reach of ReasonSteven Pinker and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein voiced in a very comprehensive dialogue on Reason, what a lot of humanists value greatly. As we will not watch the entire video during the meeting, please take 15 minutes to watch this excellent animation of the dialogue.
- Humanist League / ALLIES joint meeting""As a first-time collaboration between Humanist League and ALLIES, the LGBTQ awareness group at CMU, we will discuss issues regarding the acceptance of all genders and sexual orientations. How far have we gone? What about the rest of the 51 gender options on Facebook? How...
- Aristotle and SexHow Aristotle’s 4 Causes Can Help Shape Your Worldview This week, our Catholic members are offered a chance to lead a discussion from a more religious perspective. We all have a philosophy, whether we notice it or not. But what should it be ultimately founded...
- Augmented Reality - with PugwashWill we want to live in a world where a digital barrier exists between reality and our senses? Technologies such as Google Glass may improve our ability to sea, hear, and perhaps even to feel and to taste. However, will we lose an aspect of...
- What is life?What is it? A mechanistic process churning food into energy? Is there some kind of essence of life? Sentience? Is there something inherent to life that we should care for? Is it mere semantics?
- Humanists eat...Vegetarians eat vegetables. What should humanists eat? Humanists care about human welfare. How much do we care about animal welfare? Is there any humanist moral reasons to be a vegetarian?
- Barrier to ScienceOnly 74% of Americans know that the Earth revolves around the Sun, and only 48% know that humans evolved from earlier species of animals. (See this article) A scientifically literate citizenry is essential to the making of public policies. Why are the percentages so low?...
- Sex Positivity and Religious EthicsThe sexual morality of traditional religion tends to be based, not on solid ethical principles, but on a set of taboos about what kinds of sex God does and doesn’t want people to have. And while the sex-positive community offers a more thoughtful view of...
- Look again at that dotThat’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives … every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a...
- Why Religion?At least half of the world’s population is religious, according to many global polls. Why are people religious? It offers people a sense of morality, greater existence, belonging, and meaning. How can a less religious society offer the same? Are such societies losing something valuable?...
- Free WillThis Tuesday, we’ll be talking about these age-old questions: Is there Free Will? Is Free Will an illusion? Does it matter if it’s an illusion? Philosophers, scientists and theologians have fought over this question throughout the centuries. Will we settle it once and for all?...
- Humanist Holidays?!?!?!Irreverent Experiments with Holiday Ritual Non-religious folk are often puzzled by holiday rituals. Though many find them meaningful and enjoyable, to others their value and function remain shrouded in mystery. Are holidays and holiday rituals important? If so, why? If not, why not? Join us...
- Is Faith in God Reasonable?What’s your experience with religious faith? Has it benefited you or enriched your life? Does it remain important to you or people you care about? Or have you, for better or worse, “lost” your faith? Faith clearly plays an important role in billions of lives....
- What is it about fundamentalism and violence?Is there something about religious fundamentalism that makes people more prone to violence? If not, why are suicide bombers almost invariably devout Islamists? If so, how are we to understand the causal connection between the belief and the behavior? Have weapons of mass destruction made...
- "Blurred Lines"? Religion, Humanism and Sexual EthicsDoes Robin Thicke’s popular song “Blurred Lines” endorse date rape? What forms of sexual behavior “cross the line,” and how is one to know? Are the guilt and shame that so many feel about their sexuality natural and inevitable? Or are they learned? Where do...
- Understanding Others...Humanists like to understand how different people see the world. We also like to practice the art of dialogue that bridges worldviews. As part of this ongoing project, we meet this afternoon with a lively representative of a small religious denomination known as The New...
- Should kids be taught religion?Should kids be taught religion? Which one(s) and why? In what way, and at what age? We’ll watch a provocative video and discuss these important questions. Over cookies. Heinously delicious cookies. At Humanist League, of course, food for thought is always on the menu. We...
- How should we belong?We’ve all wanted to belong to some group. Some of us join fraternities, some join fellowships, some reaffirm their cultural and ethnic identity. But how can this be done without calling everyone else the “outsiders”? How can we strengthen in-group bonds without breaking those between...
- The Roots of Political IdeologyWhy do conservatives and liberals see the world so differently? Learn what social psychologists have discovered about the roots of political partisanship–and what we can do about it. On Tuesday the 3rd, we’ll discuss this fascinating new research, and what it might mean for the...
- Welcome Back!A warm welcome to all our fellow humanists! We did some neat stuff last year, and had a lot of fun in the process. This year, we hope to build on our promising start, and grow our vital community of inquiry. What’s the CMU Humanist...