News: Lionel Blue Seminar Series

Tuesday evenings, at 1930 in Holgate Lecture Room, Grey College

Quantum Physics teaches us that an observed system is always perturbed by the act of observation; the Observer becomes intimately bound up in the process of Observation and objectivity is hard to obtain. How do these scientific insights impact on so many other important spheres, such as the cognitive sciences, religious experience and aesthetics; how are our views affected by cultural perspectives; and, conversely, how does the “inner” world, if it exists, affect our “outer” observations? In this series, we shall examine these questions with evidence-based talks from four speakers.

Topics & speakers will be:

  • April 26th 2011: General Introduction (Lionel Blue) and The lessons from physics: how these ideas came about; and what their implications are in physical science. (Martyn Chamberlain, Durham University)
  • May 3rd 2011: Brain, mind, and consciousness: is there a quantum explanation for the operation of the brain? (Peter Marcer, British Computer Society)
  • May 10th 2011: The soul and conscience: perspectives from theology & philosophy (David Wilkinson, Durham University)
  • May 17th 2011:  Aesthetics (Simeon Nelson, University of Hertfordshire)

All welcome: for more information, please email Joyce Dover (joyce.dover@durham.ac.uk).

Please also consult the University's What’s On website.

Added Monday 11th April 2011