Meetup group site

Meetup group topic statement

2010-12-11 – What is the meaning of human life?

What is the meaning of life – questions

What is the meaning of life – topics

Meaning tradeoff – figure

2011-01-15 – What is knowledge?

Knowledge – topics

Knowledge – concepts

Structure of knowledge (figure from book In Pursuit not posted online)

2011-02-12 – What is a mind? Part 1

Mind – topics

2011-03-19 – What is a mind? Part 2

Mind – topics

Scale reductionism and extensionism (figures from book Human Life not posted online)

2011-04-23 – How do we develop ethical principles?

How do we develop ethical principles – topics

Knowledge – concepts

Meaning tradeoff – figure

World map (figure not posted online)

2011-05-14 – Why are humans so cruel to each other?

No handouts

2011-06-11 – Do we have freewill?

Do we have freewill?

Reality is indeterministic

Continuous reality (figures from book Human Life not posted online)

Scale reductionism and extensionism (figures from book Human Life not posted online)

2011-07-09

No meeting (Meetup no longer allows deleting a page after the scheduled meeting date.)

2011-08-20 – How can society best foster prosperity?

How can society best foster prosperity?

2011-10-29 – What is the reason for democracy?

See handouts on theory at my initiative website

2011-11-19 – Why did America have a civil war?

Why did America have a civil war – agenda

Why did America have a civil war – bullets

Lincoln's first inaugural address

2012-01-28 – What is the meaning of human life?

What is the meaning of life – questions

What is the meaning of life – topics

Meaning tradeoff – figure

2012-04-28 – What should Lincoln have said in his inaugural address?

What should Lincoln have said in his inaugural address – agenda

See handouts from 2011-11-19 meeting

Commentary on Dred Scott ruling (excerpt from book In Pursuit not posted online)

Lincoln hypothetical inaugural address (excerpt from book In Pursuit not posted online)

2012-05-26 – Would a secession article in the constitution have prevented secession?

See handouts from 2012-04-28 meeting

Session article (excerpt from book In Pursuit not posted online)

2012-06-30 – How can direct democracy solve the notorious problem of special interest groups?

See handout on the core defect in representative democracy at my initiative website

See talk on direct democracy at my initiative website

Notes on initiative process not posted online

2012-07-07 – What is the best calendar design?

What is the best calendar design – agenda

Calendar cycle relative to season cycle (figure from book In Pursuit not posted online)

Decimal calendar with American holidays (figure from book In Pursuit not posted online)

Time zone map (figure not posted online)

2012-08-11 – Do we have freewill?

Do we have freewill – agenda

Why freewill is what we intuitively think it is - page 1

2012-09-15 – What is happiness and how do we get it?

What is happiness and how do we get it – agenda

2012-10-27 – Why are good people divided by politics and religion?

Why are good people divided by politics and religion – agenda

Why are good people divided by politics and religion – ch. summaries (not posted online)

How does the mind work – questions

How does the mind work – agenda

Components of a mind (figure from book Human Life not posted online)

Decision-making (figure from book Human Life not posted online)

2012-11-10 – What is beauty?

What is beauty – agenda

Knowledge – concepts

What is beauty – concepts

2013-01-12 – What is the best strategy for preventing mass murders?

What is the best strategy for preventing mass murders? – agenda and discussion

2013-02-23 – What is marriage? Part 1

What is marriage – agenda

What is marriage – concepts

What is marriage – Girgis, Anderson, George chapter summaries

World map (figure not posted online)

2013-03-30 – What is marriage? Part 2

What is marriage – part 2 agenda

Handouts from last meeting