Spring 2006 Events

Thursday Feb 23rd, 2006: Knutti Hall, Rm 204— 7:30 pm 

A Commutative Philosophy of the Natural Sciences

Jerry Chandler, Ph.D., Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason Univ. 

Dr Chandler will examine how abstract symbol systems developed by the various sciences work in practice as systems of communications.  By contrasting the operations of various symbol systems one sees more clearly why and how the fragmentation of the sciences emerged as the natural language mode of communications failed to keep pace with technical jargons.  He will share his attempt to re-create an understanding of this process of differentiation in terms of traditional Aristotelian categories, Porphyrean trees, grammar and number. 

Dr Chandler is a biochemical geneticist by training. His published scientific works cover a range of activities metabolism, genetic mapping, mutagenesis, toxicology, epidemiology, public health standards, drug design, computer system design, complexity and cellular dynamics. He has served as Director of the Washington Evolutionary Systems Society for several years.

  

Thursday March 9th, 2006: Byrd Ctr for Legislative Studies — 7:30 pm

 Two Steps toward Resolving the Evolution-Creation Controversy, and a New Escalation of the Conflict

Joseph Earley, Prof.  of Chemistry, Emeritus, Georgetown University

  The current evolution-creation controversy involves intelligent and well-meaning people on both sides of the main issue. This presentation considers some of the presuppositions of each of the two sides, and calls attention to two relatively recent developments in our understanding of evolution. Full acceptance of those two findings would reduce or remove disagreement between the two groups. That change would require that scientists revise their customary understandings of human knowledge and of causality in evolution, and that creationists modify a model of divine action that is now widely accepted. Daniel Dennett’s new book, Breaking the Spell opens a new front in the conflict. In the second half of this meeting, we can all consider whether this salvo defeats the claimed reconciliation. (Dennet reviews: Science (1/21/06); and at www.barnesandnoble.com/)

 Joseph E. Earley is Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, and Professor of Liberal Studies at Georgetown University. He has published extensively on inorganic chemical reactions, process philosophy, and the philosophy of chemistry. He has worked with leading scientists in the US and abroad, including Nobel laureates Ilya Prigogine and Henry Taube. Visit his website for more detail on his work and publications: http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/earleyj/jeemain.html

  

Wednesday March 22nd, 2006: Byrd Ctr for Legislative Studies — 7:30 pm

Does Science Proscribe Immanent Divine Action?

Postponed to Fall 2006  — New Date to be Announced

(Download the presentation Dr Ulanowicz prepared for this event: http://www.cbl.umces.edu/~ulan/Shepherd.doc)
 

Robert E. Ulanowicz, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science 

It is commonly perceived that the laws of science are inexorable and exhaustive, leaving no "wiggle room" for God to intervene in the physical world in response to prayer. This assumption is predicated on a set of postulates about nature that were formulated during the Enlightenment. Contemporary research in ecosystems ecology reveals examples of biological phenomena that contradict each of those basic assumptions and suggest an alternative metaphysics that is both more accommodating of theistic beliefs and which also provides a more fruitful foundation for research in the life sciences.

 Dr. Ulanowicz is Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, and External Fellow at the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Lector and Extraordinary Minister in his Roman Catholic parish. He is a Core Participant in the "New Visions of Nature, Science and Religion at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author f several books and articles on ecology and other topics. Visit his website for more detail on his work and publications: http://www.cbl.umces.edu/~ulan/

 

Friday,  April 14th, 2006 Byrd Ctr for Legislative Studies— 7:30 to 9:00 PM

 The Medicine Wheel and the Seven Sacred Rites

Lakota Medicine Man William Stover (Standing Cloud)

(Co-sponsored by Medicine Journey and Nexus of Science and Spirit)

 Lakota Medicine William Stover, from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, will lecture on the Medicine Wheel, Native American healing practices and the seven sacred rites of the Oglala Sioux.


Saturday, April 15th

Inipi and Yuwipi Ceremony with Lakota Medicine Man William Stover (Standing Cloud)

(Co-sponsored by Medicine Journey and Nexus of Science and Spirit)

William Stover (Standing Cloud) will join us to construct a Sweat Lodge (Inipi) and perform the Yuwipi Ceremony. For more detailed information on the ceremony and about how to participate see below:
                  9:30 am to noon: Construction of Sweat Lodge (Inipi)
                   Noon to 1pm: Bring your own light bag lunch
                   1pm to 4pm: Sweat Lodge Ceremony with Doctoring Lodge
                   4:30 pm to 6 pm: Yuwipi Ceremony
                   6:30 pm to 9 pm: Pot Luck Dinner and Wopila (Thanksgiving Celebration)

These events are co-sponsored by Medicine Journey, which has provided the following explanation.  The Yuwipi is a very special and rare spirit calling ceremony in which the Medicine Man is wrapped in a blanket and bound with rope. The ceremony is conducted in complete darkness. The Yuwipi ceremony will be limited to 40 people, with people in need of healing having preference, and only people who believe in the spirit world admitted. (If too many unbelievers are present, the spirits may decide not to come). The Sweat Lodge will be limited to 18 people, with additional lodges to be held on Sunday, April 16th if necessary. The April 14  lecture can accommodate all interested people.

Donations to Medicine Journey, a non-profit supporting practitioners of indigenous medicine, are appreciated.
 

 

Saturday April 22nd , 2006  —  4:00 pm at Shaharazade's Exotic Tea Room:

 141 W. German St (304) 876-1000

The Way of Tea

Scott C. Hoyt, Founder of Hoyt Tea

East meets west in a delightful, charming, healthy way: the Way of Tea.  The science and spirit of tea are emerging into western culture through a variety of channels and for a variety of reasons.  Join us for “some tea and sympathy” as we explore and sip our way through the various dimensions of tea.