Terasem Colloquium, tomorrow (NEW ZOOM LINK)
What is consciousness, and how to preserve it beyond physical death?
Greetings to all readers and subscribers, and special greetings to the paid subscribers!
The Terasem Colloquium on December 10, 2021, 10am to 1pm ET via Zoom, will explore consciousness, and how to preserve consciousness beyond physical death. You are invited!
Please note that for technical reasons the Zoom link has been changed.
Topic: Terasem Colloquium, December 10, 2021
Time: Dec 10, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
CLICK here to join the Terasem Colloquium
Meeting ID: 976 1619 9809
Passcode: 000115
Unfortunately, Susan Schneider won’t be able to participate. So in the first time slot (10am to 10:30am ET) I’ll open the Colloquium, introduce all participants and talks, and offer some thoughts on consciousness and its preservation.
The awesome Alexandra Elbakyan tells the story of Sci-Hub and its roots in visionary neuroscience research in this video (in Russian, subtitles in English).
In the Acknowledgments chapter of both my books (link in the About page) I say this:
“I do have the world’s largest pirate research libraries at my fingertips, and everything is free. From Libgen and Z-Library, I can download most of the books I need. From Sci-Hub, I can download most of the research papers I need. Therefore, I wish to thank the Libgen, Z-Library, and Sci-Hub teams, and in particular Alexandra Elbakyan, the creator of Sci-Hub… I’m an average sixty-something, but brilliant young people all over the planet also have the world’s knowledge and best ideas at their fingertips. Some of them will make the world a better place.”
I find the “militant atheist” followers of Richard Dawkins very annoying and boring. But Dawkins himself is an entirely different thing, and I like many of his ideas. Dawkins consistently speaks up against cancel “culture” and similarly deplorable trends. His writings lend support to the spiritual naturalism promoted by Eric Steinhart in his great book “Believing in Dawkins” (the only thing I don’t like about this book is its title).
Now Richard Dawkins has published a new book titled “Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution.” This beautifully illustrated is dedicated to “Elon, High-flyer of the imagination… the visionary engineer and ‘outward urge’ prophet.” Here’s to Elon, to Dawkins, and to all spaceflight enthusiasts!
2022 promises to be a big year for spaceflight. You should read books on spaceflight in the coming Christmas holidays. If you only have time to read one book on spacelflight, read my book “Futurist spaceflight meditations.”
If you have time to read two books on spaceflight, read also “The Obligation: A Journey to Discover Human Purpose on Earth and in the Cosmos” by Steven Wolfe, an awesome philosophical novel able to give readers a burning enthusiasm for space expansion and a powerful sense of purpose.
Through his characters, Wolfe argues that we must expand beyond the Earth to bring life to the stars. But we must also take care of each other, value the life of everyone, make sure that everyone has what they need, and take care of the Earth and its biosphere.
Contrary to what some think, space expansion can and must go hand in hand with these other goals. Protecting the environment of our green Earth, and promoting social justice, are integral parts of Wolfe’s space philosophy. Conversely, space expansion can help achieve a greener and nicer Earth.
Life is “very much part of the universe’s DNA.” According to Wolfe, our duty to the Earth is to bring her seeds to the stars. This is our obligation to life, to the Earth, and to the universe.
“I've never read a more accessible, and practical, book of philosophy for the 21st century than THE OBLIGATION…” said Martine Rothblatt. “I thank Mr. Wolfe from the bottom of my heart for providing me with renewed vigor and zest for a purpose-driven life.”
Cover picture from Svenn Sivertssen / Flickr.
Dawkins followers are annoying because many are teenagers and teenage atheists are very annoying, if not aggravating especially age 13-15