"Respect, Belief and Disbelief"

About the topic:
People generally agree that we should respect one another. But interesting questions arise if we ask what this means. Respect is an attitude involving values, beliefs, and behavior; when we respect someone we deem him or her worthy in some way, and act accordingly. Basic human respect means appreciating and acting according to the dignity and worth of other human beings in virtue of their human status. Specific human respect is the appreciation of some distinctive accomplishment or valued characteristic of a person. We can also distinguish self-respect from respect for others. There are problems and questions that arise here. These will be introduced as the basis for a general discussion.

Sample questions: How is respect to be displayed? Does respecting people mean that we should refrain from criticizing their beliefs? Do we have an obligation to respect even those beliefs that we think are irrational? What would such respect mean? What sorts of things go wrong when people demand respect and think they are entitled to it? Are we obliged to respect every practice and belief, in the name of tolerance, or the valuing of diversity? Should we respect people for traditions and practices that are harmful? Attention will be paid to the difference between moral and legal perspectives on these matters.

Biography of the speaker:
Trudy Govier is professor of philosophy at the University of Lethbridge. She is the author of a number of books including a widely used critical thinking text and several works in social philosophy. Trudy has written many columns for the magazine Humanist Perspectives. She has been active in a number of community groups in Calgary including the United Way, Healthy Calgary, Project Ploughshares, and the Apeiron Society.

"Reflections on 150 Years of Darwin's Dangerous Idea"

Abstract; Dr. Hoffmann offers:
In the 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, now simply called "evolution," has firmly established itself as one of the most powerful and influential contributions ever made to the history of ideas. It is also one of the most controversial theories to have emerged from science. In this talk, I briefly survey some basic features of the theory before discussing the nature of some of the more prominent controversies that have surrounded it since its inception. Opposition to the theory on religious grounds is the most significant and well-known source of dissent concerning Darwinism, but I will also touch briefly on issues such as the philosophical implications of the theory for ethics and epistemology, as well as scientific questions about the origins of life and emergence in biology.

About the speaker:
Phillip Hoffmann is currently Associate Dean of Degree Studies at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary. He holds three degrees in philosophy, including a PhD from the University of Calgary, and his publications include articles in "Philosophy Now" magazine and the book Nothing So Absurd: An Invitation to Philosophy (Broadview Press, 2003). President of the Apeiron Society for the Practice of Philosophy, he has wide-ranging interests in philosophy, especially in the philosophy of science, and is pleased to have been invited back to the Secular Humanists in Calgary for a return speaking engagement.

"When Democratic Values and Accommodation of Religious Diversity Collide: Ethical leadership on resolution of these conflicts"

Abstract; Janet offers:
Canada is a relatively successful democratic state which has made considerable gains over the years in extending equality rights to groups of people who were previously routinely discriminated against. One of the challenges in dealing with our ever increasing diversity is knowing when accommodation of that diversity is a good and progressive thing and when it is exactly the opposite. This talk will outline a possible approach to dealing with such controversies. It will stress the importance of establishing and maintaining a religiously neutral state and will explore some of the difficulties we encounter in implementation of that ideal of religious neutrality.

About the speaker:
Janet Keeping has lived in Calgary since 1973 when she came to the city as a graduate student in environmental design. She did not finish that program but went on to do an M.A. in philosophy, and then a law degree at the University of Calgary. She articled with a major Calgary law firm and then settled down to a life working for NGOs in the city. Janet met Sheldon Chumir in 1977 and worked with him on Calgary Civil Liberties Association activities and also on the 1983 public school board election campaign which was called "SPE - Save Public Education". Together they created the Alberta Civil liberties Research Centre in 1982, of which Janet was the first Executive Director. Janet and Sheldon remained friends until his death in 1992.