The perdurable question, “Who am I?” points to a deeply rooted need within the human species to understand the basis for the experience of unitary consciousness known as the Self. Today, the word “Self” has come to refer to a host of intersecting ideas, questions, concerns, and problems that are central to the human condition and predicament. At the same time, our fundamental experience of selfhood has inevitably led to the pursuit of the related but equally enigmatic question of “What is the Self?” Historically, concepts and theories of what constitutes the Self abound and at times have been so disparate that the term has assumed radically different meanings across disciplines.The aim of the Perspectives on the Self lecture series is to thus provide an objective overview of the evolving notion, construct, and experience of the Self, without losing sight of the subjective value that makes these matters so vital to each of us. By enabling an interdisciplinary discourse among prominent experts in various fields of contemporary science and the humanities, ranging from evolutionary psychology and neuroscience to philosophy and religion, this six-part lecture series seeks to analyze and foster deeper reflection and insight on the current concept and theories of the Self and their moral, ethical, and social implications.To Be or Not To Be: The Self as Illusion Krista Tippett Journalist, Former Diplomat & Peabody-Award-Winning Broadcaster Pim van Lommel Author & Researcher in the Field of Near-Death Studies Thomas Metzinger Professor of Philosophy, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz Evan Thompson Professor of Philosophy, University of TorontoTuesday, December 7, 20106:00 pm - 7:15 pmThe New York Academy of Sciences7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor Watch DetailsQuid Pro Quo: The Ecology of the Self Steve Paulson Journalist and Executive Producer, TTBOOK Paul Bloom Professor of Psychology, Yale University Owen Flanagan Professor of Philosophy, Duke University. Roy Baumeister Professor of Psychology, Florida State UniversityWednesday, February 23, 20117:00 pm - 8:15 pmThe New York Academy of Sciences7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor Watch DetailsThe Pursuit of Immortality: From the Ego to the Soul Lisa Miller Wilbur Prize-winning Author & Commentator on Religion, History & Religious Faith John F. Haught Distinguished Research Professor, Georgetown University Kenneth R. Miller Professor of Biology, Brown University Nancey Murphy Professor of Philosophy, Fuller Theological SeminaryWednesday, March 23, 20117:00 pm - 8:15 pmThe New York Academy of Sciences7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor Watch DetailsA Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Linking Belief to Behavior Esther M. Sternberg Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine Simon Critchley Professor of Philosophy, The New School for Social Research Shaun Gallagher Professor of Philosophy & Cognitive Sciences, The University of Central Florida V. V. Raman Emeritus Professor of Physics, Rochester Institute of TechnologyThursday, April 28, 20117:00 pm - 8:15 pmThe New York Academy of Sciences7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor Watch DetailsMe, Myself, and I: The Rise of the Modern Self Robert Hanna Professor of Philosophy, University of Colorado, Boulder Gerald Izenberg Professor of History, Washington University Raymond Martin Professor of Philosophy and Department Chair, Union College Norbert Wiley Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Jerrold Seigel Professor of History Emeritus, NYUThursday, May 12, 20117:00 pm - 8:15 pmThe New York Academy of Sciences7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor Watch DetailsWho am I? Beyond ‘I Think, Therefore I Am’ Alex Voorhoeve Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, London School of Economics Elie During Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Paris Ouest – Nanterre David A. Jopling Associate Professor of Philosophy, York University Frances Kamm Professor of Philosophy, Harvard University Timothy Wilson Professor of Psychology, University of VirginiaTuesday, May 24, 20117:00 pm - 8:15 pmThe New York Academy of Sciences7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 40th Floor Watch DetailsAnnals This volume stems from a six-part lecture series that fostered reflection and insight on the current concept and theories of the self and their moral, ethical, and social implications. In addition to full transcripts of each panel, the volume also contains a number of essays by many of the participants. Read more