MAY 2023 – CONCERNS ABOUT CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
May 2nd
Contemporary Technology as "Creative Destruction"
Discussion will focus on a selection from Mauro Guillen's book, "2030". The book explores what the world might look like in 2030. We will consider what he has to say about the impact of technology. Per Guillen: "Technology disrupts the status quo by changing one or more of the following: the concept of the product, the way it is made, how it is sold, who uses it, how people use it, or how people interact with one another."
Reading: Technology as Creative Destruction
May 9th
The Battle for your Brain
In her book, Nita Farahany discusses the practical and ethical implications of commodified neuroscience, especially the issues of cognitive liberty and privacy.
Reading: Battle for Your Brain
May 16th
Concerns About Artificial Intelligence
The news is full of conversations about Artificial Intelligence. The Circle will consider what the concernsare about A.I..
May 23rd
Is Contemporary Academic Science Credible?
We hope to have a guest speak to us about the credibility of contemporary academic applications of the scientific method, and the function and reliability of modeling and algorithms.
May 30th
What Climate Science Tells Us, and What it Doesn't
Steven Koonin's book, "Unsettled", makes the case that the science of climate is neither settled nor sufficient to dictate policy. He states that climate scientists have downplayed the uncertainties and exaggerated the risks of climate change. Koonin has good academic credentials, so we will consider what he has to say.
APRIL 2023 – THE HALF KNOWN LIFE (continued from March)
In the interest of understanding the controversial and conflicted, we will take a look at Iran and Jerusalem through the eyes of author Pico Iyer. His newly published book, The Half Known Life – In Search of Paradise, provides the reader with a unique, and in some ways intimate, view of these places of which we hear so often in the news. If you can purchase the book that would be helpful.
April 4th
On The Lake
Pico Iyer's The Half Known Life – In Search of Paradise. Can we imagine a paradise that does not exclude human suffering and perversion?
This meeting will conclude our discussion of Pico Iyer's book and we will move on to other thinkers.
Reading: A Lotus in Mud
April 11th
The Other Faces of Power
As much as we hear about climate chaos, the real issue concerns the way we live and think. This particularly rings true from our discussion of Pico Iyer's book: The Half Known Life – In Search of Paradise. For the rest of April we will move on to other thinkers, beginning with exerpts from a video interview of Bill Moyers.
April 18th
The Value of the Humanities
Andrew Delbanco, recipient of the National Humanities Medal, was interviewed on Amanpour and Company. This interview will service as a basis for a discussion about the role of the Institute of World Culture in promoting the Humanities.
April 25th
Moral Clarity and Conversations
Two TED talks will form the basis of our discussion this evening. "A Moral Blueprint for Reimagining Capitalism" focuses on gaining "moral clarity" and the other: "How To Have Better Political Conversations"is about connecting to each other's values.
MAY 2023 – CONCERNS ABOUT CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
May 2nd
Contemporary Technology as "Creative Destruction"
Discussion will focus on a selection from Mauro Guillen's book, "2030". The book explores what the world might look like in 2030. We will consider what he has to say about the impact of technology. Per Guillen: "Technology disrupts the status quo by changing one or more of the following: the concept of the product, the way it is made, how it is sold, who uses it, how people use it, or how people interact with one another."
Reading: Technology as Creative Destruction
May 9th
The Battle for your Brain
In her book, Nita Farahany discusses the practical and ethical implications of commodified neuroscience, especially the issues of cognitive liberty and privacy.
Reading: Battle for Your Brain
May 16th
Concerns About Artificial Intelligence
The news is full of conversations about Artificial Intelligence. The Circle will consider what the concernsare about A.I..
May 23rd
Is Contemporary Academic Science Credible?
We hope to have a guest speak to us about the credibility of contemporary academic applications of the scientific method, and the function and reliability of modeling and algorithms.
May 30th
What Climate Science Tells Us, and What it Doesn't
Steven Koonin's book, "Unsettled", makes the case that the science of climate is neither settled nor sufficient to dictate policy. He states that climate scientists have downplayed the uncertainties and exaggerated the risks of climate change. Koonin has good academic credentials, so we will consider what he has to say.
MARCH 2023 – THE HALF-KNOWN LIFE
The Study Circle will round off the study of "patterns of learning" on March 7th and then,
March 7th
Historical and Contemporary Education in India
We will finish off our theme of Pathways to Learning–A Global Perspective. Shrinivas Chari will present a panoramic view of historial and contemporary education in India to provide us with a basis for discussion.
March 14th
The Walled Garden
Pico Iyer's The Half Known Life – In Search of Paradise, will be the basis for the discussion of Iran.
Reading: Chapter 1: The Walled Garden
March 21st
The Holy City
Pico Iyer's The Half Known Life – In Search of Paradise, will be the basis for the discussion of Jerusalem.
Reading: The Holy City
March 28th
On The Lake
Pico Iyer's The Half Known Life – In Search of Paradise, will be the basis for the discussion of Kashmir.
Reading: On The Lake
FEBRUARY 2023 – PATHWAYS TO LEARNING – A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
February 7th
Confucian
/ Taoist Patterns of Learning
A presentation of ideas on Confucian and Taoist ideas on learning.
"At home, a young man should be a good son, when outside he should treat others like his brothers, his behaviour should be one of trustworthy and proper, and should love the multitude at large and keep himself close to people of benevolence and morality. If after all these activities, he has any energy to spare, he should read widely to stay cultivated." - Confucius
Reading: Balancing Yin and Yang from Taoism, Teaching, and Learning: A Nature-Based Approcah to Education by John P. Mille
If you wish a copy of the reading, email donna@worldculture.org
February 14
Montessori Methods Around the World
"Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence." – Maria Montessori
Reading: Montessori: The World's Most Influential School?
Reading: Elementary Montessori
February 21
Alterative Patterns of Learning
We will discuss one of the oldest alternative schools in English, Summerhill and view a TED talk given by Sir Kenneth Robinson on the value of creativity in learning.
Reading: Summerhill
School
Readig: Liberating Education
February 28
Historial and Contemporary Education in Pakistan
Pakistani educator Ghazala Rahman Rafiq will joint us from Karachi to offer a glimpse into Pakistan's education landscape from a historical perspective and speak about some policies that are obstacles in the way of what she finds to be an enlightened approach in national education planning and delivery.
Link: How to Boost School Leadership in 4 Steps
Reading: Education in Pakistan (Word version) (PDF version)
JANUARY 2023 – EPICTETUS AND THE ART OF LIVING
"For Epictetus, a happy life and a virtuous life are synonymous. Happiness and personal fulfillment are the natural consequences of doing the right thing . . . Part of his genius is his emphasis on moral progress over seeking moral perfection." – Sharon Lebell
Our focus will be on the work of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, the teacher of the better-known philosopher Marcus Aurelius. We will be using Sharon Lebell's rendering of the work of Epictetus "The Art of Living: the Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness" (formerly published as "A Manual for Living"). Lebell is able to translate the thought of Epictetus into very accessible language while maintaining the original meaning. In today's world, Epictetus offers us the soothing influence of a philosophy applicable to every person no matter what their station in life or the era in which they live.
Click here for a printer-friendly schedule of topics
JANUARY 3, 2023
In the meeting, we will watch a video: "Living the Best Possible Life" with Sharon Lebel
Reading: The Art of Living, Prologue vii - xiii and pp. 2 and 3
Click here for reading
JANUARY 10, 2023
Reading: The Art of Living, "Harmonize Your Own Actions With the Way Life Is", pp. 4 - 31
Click here for reading
JANUARY 17, 2023
Reading: The Art of Living, "Self-Mastery is Our True Aim", pp. 32 - 57
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JANUARY 24, 2023
Reading: The Art of Living, "Conduct Yourself with Dignity", pp. 58 - 79
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JANUARY 31, 2023
Reading: Education and the Heart of Social Change by Robert W. Roeser
Click here for reading |
