About the topic: The brain’s ‘job’ is to enable and control everything an organism does. But how exactly does the brain control so many complex tasks so well and so seamlessly every second of every day? Vincent will explain that it is the brain’s dynamic communication capabilities that explain how these processes work and why you can teach an old dog new tricks, namely how adult humans and other organisms have practical intelligences, social capabilities, and he will deal with the question of artificial persons.

About the speaker: Dr. Vincent DiNorcia has a PhD in Philosophy and is widely published on a range of topics, specializing in business/technology ethics. Most recently his article in the current Nov/Dec issues of Philosophy Now, “Ethics & The Brain” is available at Chapters if supplies have lasted. Also, he is a long time member and repeat speaker for the Central Ontario Humanists.

The event is free for members. The public is welcome to come with a food donation for the Grocery Assist Program or pay a $5 charge

• Location: Georgian College, Rowntree Theatre in the Canadian Automotive Building (H)
• Parking: $2 for parking in parking lot 11 (don’t park at a meter, park in lot 11)
• Cost: $5 for non members OR a food donation for the Grocery Assist Program will be collected

Join the Facebook Event for this meeting.

More information below:

On Wednesday, November 30th at 7PM Dr. Chris DiCarlo will be giving a presentation at the Rowntree Theatre at Georgian College. This award winning presenter will talk to us about how to ask the right questions and how to spot bad answers. Dr. DiCarlo will tell us about the important big five questions: What can I know? Why am I here? What am I? How should I behave? What is to come of me?

This dovetails beautifully with last January’s video presentation of Sam Harris’ book “The Moral Landscape.” Ethics, free will, and critical thinking are corner stones of  Dr. DiCarlo’s lively and engaging presentation. His book, “How To Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass” will be on sale. A must have guide for all budding critical thinkers.

Many new members and guests to the Central Ontario Humanists don’t remember the last time Chris DiCarlo came by to entertain and inform us. When speaking to some members, one said he had Dr. DiCarlo as a professor and that he was a great speaker and teacher. I soon got word that another person in that conversation went home and looked him up on YouTube. She immediately said she understands why Chris DiCarlo is held in such high regard by humanists when she saw a video of him debating the existence of God with William Lane Craig. It’s easy to see why he was Humanist Canada’s 2008 Humanist of the Year.

Justice System

• What should it look like?
• Non-violent crime
• Sex industry: Prohibition/Legalization
• Recreational drugs: Prohibition/Legalization
• Restorative justice

Political

• Patriotism
• Change “O Canada” to be more inclusive
• Limits of free speech

Doors open at 6:30, and the presentation starts promptly at 7 PM. As is our tradition, we will be meeting for dinner and discussion at 5 PM at Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St. Anyone is welcome to come. If you have any questions about our pre-meeting dinner, please email me and ask.

If you missed our October meeting, not to worry: We’ve put a video (in 7 parts) of Dr. Monika Havelka’s funny and informative presentation online at http://www.cohumanists.ca/2010/paradox-of-sex-by-monika-havelka/ Just click on the images at the bottom of the video screen to select the 15 minute segments you want to view. (Her slides are forth coming.)

A Quest Toward Interreligious Harmony

How can we promote better relations among people from different religions? The nature of our motivations may be key, specifically whether they are externally motivated, say from peer pressure or fear mongering; or internally motivated, such as by intrinsic satisfaction or spiritual and related quests. There is considerable evidence that the latter correlates with less hostility towards other religions. I will discuss my research on how motivations toward religiosity influence attempts to promote positive interreligious attitudes.

President — Shawn Conroy
Vice-President — Josh Phillips
Treasurer — Lindsay Smith
Membership — Chris Emmink
Secretary — open

It is desirable to have more than one person vying for the positions; so if you want to help COHA thrive, please inform Tom Cooke that you would like to be a Director. Nominations will close by November 20th.

No pot luck this year! Instead we’re preparing a sumptuous buffet banquet at a cost of only $10 each, with COHA covering the rest. Chris Emmink, our Membership Director, is catering, and he and Teresa Amado are the party organizers. Of course we will have games and lots of fun too. Here is the menu (if you have dietary restrictions, please inform Chris cemmink@gmail.com and he will try to accommodate):

Appetizer: Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese, Capers and Bagel Slices
Main: Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Mixed Green Salad with Caramelized Pears & Pecans
Dessert: Chocolate Fountain with Fresh Fruit, Browned Butter Shortbread Cookies
Coffee, Tea, and soft drinks — Please bring your own wine/beer/spirits, along with your good cheer.

Chris needs to know in advance how much food to prepare, so we must receive your payment (or issue a refund if you can’t come) by December 12. Seating is limited to 43, so a waiting list is possible; and COHA members and their families take precedence. If you want to come but can’t make the November 25th meeting, please mail your cheque to Armando Perez, 53 Eder Trail RR3, Minesing, ON. L0L 1Y3. kaitoo.gm@gmail.com

Monday, January 31
Monday, February 21
Wednesday, March 30
Thursday, April 28
Wednesday, May 25
Wednesday, June 29
Wednesday, Jul 27
Wednesday, August 31
Wednesday, September 28
Wednesday, October 26
Wednesday, November 30
Wednesday, December 28

Warm regards,
Paul
President

As I announced last month, on Thursday October 28, the amazing Dr. Monika Havelka returns. This time her talk is

Why Sex? — The Evolution of a Paradox.

Birds do it, bees do it — but why did sex evolve and why does sex persist?? Sexual reproduction represents a troubling paradox to evolutionary biologists.The costs of sex are many and obvious — costs of finding, wooing and defending mates, as well as the genetic costs of sharing parentage of offspring, etc. — but the benefits from an evolutionary perspective are not quite so apparent. Nevertheless, sexual reproduction is found throughout the tree of life. This lecture explores the paradox of sexual reproduction from an evolutionary perspective and tries to answer the question, “why sex?”

It’s worth repeating that Monika spoke to us (twice) last year on “Evo-Devo” to rave reviews, and was a finalist again, this time in the 2010 TVO Best Lecturer Competition. She also won a Dean’s Merit Award of Excellence at U of T.

Please tell your friends to join you a week this Thursday at 7pm. at the Barrie Library’s Angus-Ross room. We are expecting a full house, so be sure to get there early!

Our November 25th meeting will feature Dr. Reeshma Haji, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Laurentian University at Georgian College. In A Quest Toward Interreligious Harmony, she will present her research showing how people’s religious motivations influence attempts to promote positive interreligious attitudes, a topic that should be of great interest to secular humanists. Stay tuned for more details as November approaches.

Last but not least, if you want to see COHA thrive, be sure to volunteer any help you can. In November we must elect 2011′s slate of COHA Directors. All five positions are open: President (I’m retiring), Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership. The work is not onerous.

How Science Affects Religion – One Priest’s Perspective

This marks the first time COHA has had a speaker from “the other side.” You may be surprised at how open he is to Humanist ways of thinking. A smart Q&A session will follow the presentation.

The Central Ontario Humanist Association will meet on Wednesday, May 26 at the Barrie Public Library (60 Worsley St.) in the Angus-Ross meeting room, which is immediately to your left when you enter the building. The doors open at 6:30 and the presentation will begin promptly at 7 PM. We welcome visitors to attend for free, especially agnostics, atheists, free thinkers and other Humanist friendly people. Refreshments are provided.

As always we will meet for dinner ahead of time and invite anyone who is interested to come out to Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St. at 5PM.

You can view our membership information and to download the membership form on this site by going to our membership section.

You can download the Humanist Canada (Humanist Association of Canada) membership form or pay online at the Humanist Canada Membership page.