Centenary's Forum
Immaturity and dependence are the inability to use one's own intellect without the direction of another. One is responsible for this immaturity and dependence, if its cause is not a lack of intelligence, but a lack of determination and courage to think without the direction of another. Sapere aude! Dare to know! is therefore the slogan of the Enlightenment.
—Immanuel Kant, "What is Enlightenment?"
Welcome to the Forum. We choose a topic, and invite experts, but in the end, students and citizens have the last word.
Theme: Free Will and Neuroscience
This year's Forum addresses free will and neuroscience. Have neuroscientists shown that all our actions are determined? Are we free to make moral choices? Dr. Alfred Mele, the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University, is expert guest. He argues that neuroscientific finding shouldn't undermine belief in freedom. Next week, students and citizens respond. The Philosophy Discussion Group invites you to attend both events and join our discussion. Have neuroscientists shown that we aren't free? Are we free? Can we know if we are?
Got questions about free will, determinism, and neuroscience? Read the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy for answers.
Order Dr. Mele's book from Oxford University Press.
Part I: Dr. Alfred Mele
March 9th, 7pm
Whited Room, Bynum Commons
Dr. Alfred Mele is the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University.
Part II: Students and Citizens
March 16th, 7pm
Whited Room, Bynum Commons
Dr. Mele will start our discussion and a group of students and members of the Shreveport Times's Citizen Editorial Board will continue it. Afterwards, the audience can ask questions and we will discuss.
| Students | Citizens |
| TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA |
Remember to check the Shreveport Times for columns from Dr. Mele, our students and citizens prior to each meeting.
We'd like to thank the Convocations Subcommittee, the Shreveport Times, and Centenary's Office of Public Relations for all their support.