CFI Research Introduction
The Center for Inquiry is the world's foremost not-for-profit organization devoted to the defense of reason, science, secular humanism, and the naturalistic worldview. The CFI Transnational campus in Amherst, N.Y. is also a research institute that is emerging as a nurturing environment for students and scholars working on philosophical naturalism, democratic secularism, and humanist ethics. Questions about CFI's research activities may be directed to John Shook, Vice President for Research, at
The Center for Inquiry is pursuing a variety of research activities. CFI's Naturalism Research Project promotes the study of philosophical naturalism, the worldview based on reason and science, which can be intelligently applied to improve the human condition. The CFI Office of Public Policy in Washington, D.C. defends the values of scientific naturalism and secular humanism in the context of U.S. law and public policy, publishing policy papers of new research and analysis about important topics. CFI publishes several ground-breaking peer-reviewed academic journals, including Philo: A Journal of Philosophy, The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, and The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice.
CFI's new 13,600 square foot research building includes offices and seminar rooms, where the Center's Institute conducts classes and seminars. Additional space for the Libraries and archives, along with study carrels and computing services, is available on the lower level. The three buildings of the Center for Inquiry now total some 35,000 square feet on 7.5 acres. There are an additional three residences for visitors. The Center's Libraries hold over 160,000 volumes of books, pamphlets, and periodicals, and several collections of philosophers' papers. Major collections include the Jo Ann Boydston Library of American Philosophical Naturalism; the Joseph L. Blau Library on religion and philosophy; John Shook's Pragmatism Archive; the James Hervey Johnson Freethought and Humanist Library; the Humanist Institute Collection; and the John and Mary Frantz Skeptic's Library. The CFI Libraries continue to grow through donations (such as the Steve Allen, Richard Taylor, Patrick Romanell, and Paul Edwards acquisitions). The Boydston endowment (nearing $1,000,000) will be used in the coming years to establish the finest collection on American Philosophical Naturalism in the world and to fund visiting fellowships.
Visiting students and scholars can work with CFI Chairman Paul Kurtz, the founder of the secular humanist movement, and the four senior research fellows at the Center for Inquiry: Joseph Hoffmann of the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion; Joe Nickell of the Committee for Scientific Inquiry; John Shook of the Naturalism Research Project; and Ibn Warraq, a leading scholar on Islam.
The Naturalism Research Project has inaugurated the "Boydston Naturalism Research Fellowship," which will begin in Fall 2007. The first large conference of the Naturalism Research Project will be "The Future of Naturalism" on 20-22 September 2007. Prominent scholars who will speak include Arthur Caplan (Penn), Ronald Giere (Minnesota), Adolf Grunbaum (Pittsburgh), Isaac Levi (Columbia), David Rosenthal (CUNY), and Ernest Sosa (Rutgers).
Future plans for the CFI research center envision hosting a dozen scholars at a time (perhaps as many as 200 during a year), using 300,000 volumes and hundreds of electronic databases. They will be giving lectures, writing for both academic and popular media, and collaborating on numerous interdisciplinary projects. Most importantly, they will be exploring improved understandings of scientific methodology, varieties of philosophical naturalism, and rational systems of humanistic ethics. In this vision, the Center for Inquiry will continue to lead the way towards the "new enlightenment" of humanity.
We urge you to consider a donation for aspects of this research center: perhaps for the Herbert Schneider Reading Room or the John Dewey Special Collections Library, or the naming of another room, or any of the numerous other naming opportunities. We also seek funds for visiting research fellowships, doctoral student travel grants, conferences, and many other needs. Please also consider donating books and periodicals to the research center libraries. Gifts can be tax-deductible. We would be delighted to discuss your involvement with the Center for Inquiry at your convenience.
