
At their core, multiple branches of knowledge have emerged in response to two age-old questions: First, why are we here? And second, how can we lead a meaningful life? Historically, these questions were the province of religion and spirituality, but with the declining influence of religious traditions and waning academic interest in the humanities, we have been left with a vacuum of meaning.
Recently, however, we have witnessed a resurgence in the quest for meaning. Scientists are now beginning to broach questions of meaning and purpose, drawing on empirical evidence from a variety of fields. This three-part series at the New York Academy of Sciences brings together leading scientists and scholars to explore the meaning of life through the lens of scientific inquiry.
The Power of Meaning: The Quest for an Existential Roadmap
Tuesday, October 10, 2017 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Sold Out
Where can we turn to find a roadmap that explains where we have come from, why we are here, and where we are headed? Neurologist Jay Lombard, philosophers Massimo Pigliucci and Michael Ruse, and author Emily Esfahani Smith shed light on these perennial questions. Learn More
The Story of Life: Critical Insights from Evolutionary Biology
Thursday, December 7, 2017 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Sold Out
The notion that humans are an evolutionary accident is unsatisfying for most non-scientists and fails to resonate with their experience. What can evolutionary biology tell us about the meaning of our lives? Paleoanthropologists Melanie Chang and Ian Tattersall, and paleontologist Simon Conway Morris share their insights on how meaning can be gleaned from the story of life itself. Learn More
A Touch of Awe: Crafting Meaning from the Wonder of the Cosmos
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Sold Out
Over the past 100 years we have learned more about life in our universe than the entire history of humanity put together. What guidance or wisdom can the study of cosmology and astrophysics offer us in our search for meaning and purpose? Theoretical physicists Paul Davies and Ard Louis, and astrophysicist Lucianne Walkowicz tackle the “big questions” of existence. Learn More