He will be joined by Temple Grandin, renowned autism advocate and inspiration to millions, and Steven Pinker, author of The Blank Slate and How the Mind Works.
Paul Bloom is a distinguished cognitive scientist and award-winning author, most recently of the book, How Pleasure Works: The new science of why we like what we likeand the May 2010 article in The New York Times Magazine, “The Moral Life of Babies.”
A popular professor of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University, Bloom’s research is wide ranging, including the study of morality, happiness, language, and pleasure.
In How Pleasure Works, Bloom argues that there are deep and surprising commonalities in the pleasures that we get from art, food, sex, stories, and consumer products. His study of everyday morality and the factors that underlie moral conflict have addressed philosophical questions like, Where do our gut feelings about issues such as abortion, torture, and gay marriage come form? Do liberals think differently than conservatives? How much does religion matter?
Bloom believes that we can learn much about morality through the study of babies, chimpanzees, and psychopaths. In his article, “The Moral Life of Babies,” Bloom asserts that babies possess certain moral foundations, including the capacity and willingness to judge the actions of others, some sense of justice, and gut responses to altruism and nastiness.
In addition to How Pleasure Works, Bloom is the author of Descartes’ Baby: How the science of child development explains what makes us human. He has written more than 100 scientific articles in journals such as Nature and Science, and his popular writing has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, The American Scientist, Slate, and The Atlantic. His article in The Atlantic, “Is God an Accident?” was included in The Best American Science Writing 2006.
Dr. Temple Grandin will talk about "The Glorious Mysterious Brain"
on Friday, February 25, 2011 at The CT Forum.
2010 was a big year for renowned doctor, professor, best-selling author and autism advocate Temple Grandin. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Duke University, had her life story adapted into a movie for HBO, and attended the Emmy Awards to see the film win seven Emmys, including Best Made-for-Television Movie, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, and Best Music Composition.
Grandin looks to keep herself just as busy in 2011 as she joins our CT Forum panel on Friday, February 25, 2011 for the Glorious, Mysterious Brain alongside Steven Pinker and another panelist soon to be announced.
Tickets are first come first served, and can be purchased online at www.ctforum.org. A limited number of "Ultimate" ticket packages are available to those seeking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Forum panelists, attend the pre-Forum cocktail reception and dinner, get GREAT seats, and much more. For more information, please call Peter at (860) 509-0909 ext. 25.
The Connecticut Forum Announces: Temple Grandin to join Steven Pinker at The Glorious, Mysterious Brain Friday, February 25, 2011
"If I could snap my fingers and become nonautistic I would not do so. Autism is a part of who I am." - Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin's doctors confused her autism with brain damage when she was young, and she didn't speak a word until she was nearly four years old. Despite her early silence, these days her words carry weight. Grandin is an important autism advocate, helping raise awareness and understanding about the experience of autistic individuals. A recent HBO movie about her life, starring Claire Danes, has received 15 Emmy nominations. This year, Grandin was included on the Time Magazine list of 100 people who most affect our world. We're excited to welcome her to The Connecticut Forum for The Glorious, Mysterious Brain on November 11, to join Steven Pinker.
In addition to her work as an autism advocate, Grandin is also an accomplished doctor of Animal Science and a consultant on animal welfare issues. She has worked to improve standards in slaughterhouses and livestock; her ability to notice detail and understand the experience of cattle and other animals helps her to "see" the issues with the way livestock are treated and handled. She teaches Animal Science at Colorado State University.
Grandin brings a unique perspective to the panel, as she is able to explain the way she and other autistic individuals think "in pictures". You can watch her on TED, talking about how the world needs all kinds of minds to encourage all kinds of thinking.
"If I call myself a psychologist people immediately think of a psychotherapist, but if I call myself a cognitive scientist at least no one knows what the hell that is."- Steven Pinker, The Guardian UK.
One of Time Magazine 2004's 100 Most Interesting People. A Harvard professor and world renowned researcher. Author of seven books and numerous articles. The Connecticut Forum welcomes Steven Pinker for The Glorious and Mysterious Brain Panel!
Steven Pinker is Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Until 2003, he taught in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. He conducts research on language and cognition, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time, and The New Republic, and is the author of seven books, including The Blank Slate, The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, and most recently, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature.
We are a one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization serving Connecticut and beyond with live, unscripted panel discussions among renowned experts and celebrities, and community outreach programs including our award-winning CT YOUTH Forum. Our mission: To encourage the free and active exchange of ideas in Forums that inform, challenge, entertain, inspire and build bridges among all people and organizations in our community.
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