UA Philosophy Today Series Looks at ‘Meaning in Life and the Illusion of Free Will’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Derk Pereboom, a professor at Cornell University, will speak Nov. 9 at The University of Alabama on “Meaning in Life and the Illusion of Free Will” at 7:30 p.m. in room 205 of Smith Hall.

The talk continues UA’s 2010-2011 Philosophy Today lecture series that features four experts discussing controversial and provocative philosophical topics.

The lectures are geared toward a general audience and should be of interest to those in any profession or academic discipline. The presentations are free and open to the public.

“Are human actions freely chosen? Can we deserve blame and praise for what we do? The common-sense answer to both of these questions is yes,” Pereboom said.

“But this answer is threatened by the fact that our best scientific theories support the view that factors beyond our control produce all of our actions. I will set out my argument that free will of the sort required for deserved blame and praise is indeed ruled out, but that this does not undermine the core elements of morality, value and meaning in life.”

Pereboom’s research areas are in free will and moral responsibility, philosophy of mind, history of modern philosophy and philosophy of religion. His second book, “Consciousness and the Prospects of Physicalism” is scheduled for publication in 2011.

Pereboom earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining Cornell University in 2007, he had taught at the University of Vermont since 1985.

The Philosophy Today series is sponsored by UA’s College of Arts and Sciences; the department of philosophy; a grant from Louis W. Perry of La Jolla, Calif.; and other alumni and friends of the department.

The third speaker in the series, Dr. Alison M. Jaggar of the University of Colorado at Boulder, will speak on “The Philosophical Challenges of Global Gender Justice” Jan. 27, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in room 205 of Smith Hall.

UA’s department of philosophy is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.