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This introductory course will explore scientific naturalism and its personal and social implications. Recent developments in biology and neuroscience suggest that there is a physical basis for each and every human characteristic and capability. What are the implications if we take such science seriously with respect to ourselves? By illuminating our causal connections to the world and each other, naturalism challenges some widely held assumptions about the soul, personal identity, free will, and the basis for moral responsibility. But naturalism also provides a positive, effective, and empirically validated worldview. Understanding ourselves as fully natural creatures gives us power and control while fostering compassion, acceptance, and feeling at home in the universe. Readings will include Encountering Naturalism, Owen Flanagan’s The Problem of the Soul, George Lakoff’s Moral Politics, Ursula Goodenough's The Sacred Depths of Nature, and materials at www.naturalism.org. This is a 6 part course. 1. The basis for naturalism – the commitment to science; precursors in Enlightenment philosophy; 20th century exponents; the current wave of naturalism. 2. Debunking the soul – the naturalistic critique of dualism and contra-causal free will; the experience of the self/agent; logical and empirical difficulties with libertarian free will; naturalizing the self and its power. 3. Personal and interpersonal implications of naturalism – behavior as fully caused; self-control; interpersonal dynamics; naturalizing moral responsibility; causality and forgiveness. 4. Social implications – challenging radical individualism; addiction and behavioral disorders; criminal justice; social inequality. 5. Ultimate concerns – naturalistic origins; the science of connectedness; the experience of connection; transience and acceptance; final questions. 6. Naturalism and contemporary culture – science, religion, and the culture wars; moral politics; naturalism in a pluralist society; the prospects for naturalism. Course meetings, format, and fee. The course will meet every week starting on Sunday May 20, 7 to 9:00 pm. The format will include presentations by the instructor, guided discussion, and an optional written assignment. Course fee is $120, with a minimum enrollment of 4. Meetings to be held in Davis Square, Somerville, MA. About the instructor: Tom Clark is director of the Center for Naturalism, founder of Naturalism.Org, and host of the Davis Square Philosophy Café. He has written and lectured extensively on naturalism and its implications, and has led seminars in contemporary philosophy and naturalism for the Humanist Association of Massachusetts. ***************
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