Massimo Pigliucci: “Answers for Aristotle”
CFI-Amherst is proud to present:
"Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to a More Meaningful Life"
with Massimo Pigliucci
How should we live? According to philosopher and biologist Massimo Pigliucci, the greatest guidance to this essential question lies in combining the wisdom of 24 centuries of philosophy with the latest research from 21st century science.
In Answers for Aristotle, Pigliucci argues that the combination of science and philosophy first pioneered by Aristotle offers us the best possible tool for understanding the world and ourselves. As Aristotle knew, each mode of thought has the power to clarify the other: science provides facts, and philosophy helps us reflect on the values with which to assess them. But over the centuries, the two have become uncoupled, leaving us with questions about morality, love, friendship, justice, and politics that neither field could fully answer on its own. Pigliucci argues that only by rejoining each other can modern science and philosophy reach their full potential, while we harness them to help us reach ours.
Massimo Pigliucci, PhD, is a professor in the philosophy program at the City University of New York's Graduate Center and was formerly a biology professor at Stony Brook University. He is the author or editor of eight previous books, most recently Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk. He lives in New York City.
Praise for the book, Answers for Aristotle:
"Massimo Pigliucci's beautiful mind and encyclopedic knowledge are on full display in Answers for Aristotle. He is as comfortable discussing quantum physics and cognitive psychology as he is explaining the complexities of evolutionary biology and moral philosophy. Answers for Aristotle is a stimulating, entertaining book that demonstrates that we need both science and philosophy to make sense of who we are and how we live our lives."
- Dario Maestripieri, Professor of Comparative Human Development, The University of Chicago, and author of Games Primates Play
"From ethics to epistemology, from the self to the state, from the hormones of love to the heavens above, Massimo Pigliucci's Answers for Aristotle argues for the mutual relevance of science and philosophy in understanding the world in which we live. Enthusiastic, enlightening, and enthralling."
-Glenn Branch, Deputy Director, National Center for Science Education
"Answers for Aristotle explores diverse yet uniformly fascinating and essential subjects we've previously explored and will continue to explore for the foreseeable lifetime - love, morality, what it means to be human, the meaning of life, the limits of science, and much more."
-Maria Popova, Brain Pickings
Plenty of free parking is available. (Map)
