© Nour Foundation 2023© Nour Foundation 2014© Randy Van Duinen 2018© Nour Foundation 2018© Nour Foundation 2019© Nour Foundation 2019© Nour Foundation 2019OverviewAn interdisciplinary exploration of the perennial questions facing humanityInspired by the life and work of the late Ostad Elahi—a contemporary thinker, jurist, and master musician who devoted his life to the pursuit of self-knowledge and the perennial questions facing humanity—the Foundation presents an array of informed discourse rooted not only in sound theories, but in the shared commonality of our personal experience as well. Ostad Elahi Exploring Meaning & Commonality in Human Experience In an age dominated by information and technology, where can we turn to find an existential roadmap, one that can address the enduring questions of our existence while helping us to navigate the myriad challenges and dilemmas of daily life? How can the rational pursuit of meaning and spirituality be integrated into the demands and exigencies of our contemporary lives?Upcoming SeriesAn in-depth investigation into the nature of the human mind, from its origins and functions to its cultivation and development Spirituality in the Age of Science: Conversations on God, Transcendence & Mortality Hosted in the elegant Morgan Library and Museum, this thought-provoking series features Wisconsin Public Radio’s Steve Paulson in conversation with three leading thinkers and scientists: anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann, physicist Alan Lightman, and physician Sam Parnia. Over the course of an unforgettable evening, each will share the results of their ongoing work and unique insights into the nature of spiritual experience, the quest for meaning and transcendence, and the question of consciousness beyond death. Learn More The Spiritual Impulse: Understanding the Experience of God A Conversation with Tanya Luhrmann Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Numerous polls have consistently shown that most people around the world believe in the existence of God or some higher power. Indeed, many of these people not only believe in a deeper reality, but also claim to experience God directly. Can social science explain how rational people come to believe in God and experience the divine as real? Watch Details Spiritual Materialism: Transcendent Encounters with the Sacred A Conversation with Alan Lightman Tuesday, December 5, 2023 What is the origin of our transcendent experiences? How should we interpret feelings of being connected to nature and the cosmos, of being part of something larger than ourselves, of being overcome with awe and wonder? Can such feelings arise from the forces of natural selection and the human brain, or must they be derived from some all-powerful Creator? RSVP Details Rethinking Mortality: Exploring the Intersection of Life and Death A Conversation with Sam Parnia Wednesday, February 7, 2024 Scientific advances in the 21st century have led to major breakthroughs in the understanding of death. One in five survivors of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) who are revived back to life recall experiencing a heightened and transcendent state of consciousness that often follows a specific narrative arc. What can these remarkable experiences ultimately tell us about the nature of human consciousness? Save the Date Details Featured EventsA collection of thought-provoking discussions on such topics as the nature of reality and the mystery of human consciousness The Enduring Enigma of the Mind Where does the human mind begin? If we equate the mind with consciousness, should we account for its emergence as a by-product of evolution, or should we accept it instead as a fundamental feature of reality, on a par with concepts such as matter and energy? Does the mind only exist in animals with brains, or does it have a deeper, possibly cosmic meaning? The question runs through the intellectual... Learn More Thursday, November 17, 2022 Unraveling the Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness Few words in our language appear to cover such a broad and flexible swath of ideas as “the mind.” But what, actually, is the human mind? How does it relate to and differ from its seemingly inseparable companion, the brain? Where does the mind begin or emerge from? Is it merely a by-product of neural activities within the brain, or... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Fathoming the Mind: A Closer Look at the Formation of Self Recent research in animal behavior and culture shows that the mental capacities of animals have been largely undervalued. And yet it is hard to resist the impression of a gap—a difference in nature rather than degree—between humans and non-humans when it comes to certain tasks involving abstraction, planning, sustained attention, or the transmission of culture over generations. How different is... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Cultivating the Mind: Reason and the Pursuit of Ethical Transformation Rationality, long considered a distinctive characteristic of the human mind, provides us with the capacity for understanding and discernment, as well as the ability to introduce order into our thoughts by allowing us to form higher-order volitions, adopt values, establish priorities, and achieve a level of consistency in our actions across time. The ancient Socratic ideal of the “examined life”... Learn More Richard Davidson, PhD Richard Davidson is William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, he is the Director... Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details The Power of Wonder: Modern Marvels in the Age of Science The feelings of awe and wonder engendered by astonishing or mysterious natural phenomena are as old as humanity itself. According to the classical account of rationality, the end of inquiry—the production of a viable explanation—should also serve to diffuse these emotions. Yet, the cultural and spiritual significance of wonder and its psychological underpinnings seem to suggest a different... Learn More Thursday, October 10, 2019 Unpacking Wonder: From Curiosity to Comprehension Social psychologist Michelle "Lani" Shiota, writer Caspar Henderson, and astrophysicist Alex Filippenko unpack the emerging science behind the emotion of awe and wonder, and its function in our ongoing quest for understanding and knowledge.Steve Paulson Steven Paulson is the executive producer and an interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a radio program produced at Wisconsin Public... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Beyond Oneself: The Ethics and Psychology of Awe Prof. of religious studies and ethicist Lisa Sideris joins psychologists Jennifer Stellar and Piercarlo Valdesolo to explore our understanding of how awe shapes our perspectives and views on everything from science to morality.Steve Paulson Steven Paulson is the executive producer and an interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a radio program produced at Wisconsin Public... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Wednesday, February 5, 2020 The Enigma of Life: Confronting Marvels at the Edges of Science Physicist Marcelo Gleiser, experimental psychologist Tania Lombrozo, and physician Gavin Francis analyze the impact of awe and wonder on their own work and on the mindsets of their colleagues carrying out cutting-edge scientific research.Steve Paulson Steven Paulson is the executive producer and an interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a radio program produced at Wisconsin Public... Learn More Marcelo Gleiser, PhD is a world-renowned theoretical physicist and award-winning author, and is currently the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and a professor of physics... Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details