Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Much of American culture praises those who speak their mind, regardless of the impact of their words. They like people to “tell it like it is”. This tendency is supported by the assumption that keeping things to yourself is unhealthy. Many believe that regular cathartic truth-telling is necessary to [...]

Chloe Bakalar Temple University Engineers are stereotyped as problem-solvers, not philosophers. But philosophy and engineering are deeply intertwined in artificial intelligence, which increasingly powers the world. Philosophy is necessary to understand the values embedded in AI tools and to push for desirable outcomes. Bakalar discusses the challenges of creating a values-based approach to AI, as [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society For those who prefer ponderous and ethically dynamic topics on Sunday morning, the subject of “fun” may seem trivial. We often think of “having fun” as something childish, not something to be pursued by sober-minded adults. But author Catherine Price disagrees. Things that are “really fun” are not simple [...]

Russ Feingold former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin, is perhaps best known for his sponsorship, with John McCain, of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. He is now president of the American Constitution Society (ACS), a national, 250-chapter network of lawyers and law students. Feingold will explain how the ACS offers [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Caring deeply about other people, a community, or a project, is part of living a good life. But in our unpredictable world it also can lead to heartbreak, a form of suffering with distinctive mental, physical, and emotional characteristics. How is heartbreak framed in our relationships and in our [...]

Rabbi Edmond H. Weiss Thomas Jefferson believed that by the end of the 19th century all Americans—granted freedom from religion—would become enlightened atheists or Unitarians. A generation later, the founders of Reform Judaism believed that the ethical writings of Immanuel Kant eventually would supersede the Bible’s commandments. Rabbi Weiss argues that both viewpoints failed to [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society Join us in-person and on Zoom for a gratitude gathering with music, readings, activities, and sharing—but no food. For those who want to eat, we will be serving pie at the building afterward! Those fully-vaccinated and boosted are welcome to join in-person at 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square. Please wear [...]

Daniel Hoffman, PES Member The United Nations NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief was formed in 1991. The goal: to promote international agreements protecting freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief. Daniel, who is on the board, will share the organization’s background and talk about how the conflict between freedom of religion and [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales Leader, Philadelphia Ethical Society The recent surge in book bans is troubling. During the last academic year, school districts in 32 states announced 2,500 such actions. But thanks to human curiosity and opposition to censorship, banning books backfires. Book stores even create displays to capitalize on demand for this forbidden fruit. Hugh suggests [...]

Jonathan Zimmerman University of Pennsylvania Americans have long debated how public schools should address religion and faith. Now we’re arguing about our conceptions of America, which have become quasi-religious beliefs in their own right. Can we present diverse views of this country rather than teach a single story? Zimmerman, professor of history of education and [...]