What is Human? How do we define the Other?
These were questions addressed in our experimental roundtable discussion on April 28, 2016 at Swarthmore College. The event provided an amazing first opportunity to bring together scholars in the Philadelphia area to discuss intersecting themes of morality, race, and the body. The conversation attracted an audience interested in moral emotion, the brain, human classification, urban redevelopment, Vodun, zombies, and the afterlife.
Part 2 of our discussion (~20 mins, video available below), particularly concerns historical and contemporary imaginings of the body and afterlife through religious and other lenses. We ask: Which bodies, brains, and emotions are considered righteous and human? Who gets to have an afterlife? What happens to the body in the afterlife?
Part 2 of our discussion (~20 mins, video available below), particularly concerns historical and contemporary imaginings of the body and afterlife through religious and other lenses. We ask: Which bodies, brains, and emotions are considered righteous and human? Who gets to have an afterlife? What happens to the body in the afterlife?
Cultivating an Interdisciplinary Perspective.
In my earlier post, I shared how I came up with the idea of pulling together this group of friends for this unscripted public discussion on April 28 (sponsored by the Swarthmore College Department of Linguistics). Already, I was intrigued by each of their particular ways of studying the human condition as sociologists, philosophers, anthropologists, medievalists, and literary and religious studies scholars. But also, I wanted to be able to experience with them, the unexpected coming together of many different strands of thought. These are deeply reflective exercises that keep our brains growing, and challenge our perspectives on the world.
As you watch the video, you'll be able to experience along with the us the moments in which we toyed with ideas of what and how the body is, as well as what is meant by notions of morality and afterlife. I had also wanted my students to experience this interdisciplinary gathering, and I was so glad that they were able to take part, and interact with the panelists as well.
This was all so much fun for us that we're now thinking about coming together again in the fall semester. I'll keep you posted here, so you can join us!
As you watch the video, you'll be able to experience along with the us the moments in which we toyed with ideas of what and how the body is, as well as what is meant by notions of morality and afterlife. I had also wanted my students to experience this interdisciplinary gathering, and I was so glad that they were able to take part, and interact with the panelists as well.
This was all so much fun for us that we're now thinking about coming together again in the fall semester. I'll keep you posted here, so you can join us!
Many thanks to our Panelists!
Emily August [not present] (Literature, Stockton University) - Bodies in Medical Textbooks Yvonne Chireau (Religion, Swarthmore College) - Vodun, Race, and Control Christina Jackson (Sociology, Stockton University) - Bodies in Protest Paul Mitchell (Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania) - Scientific Racism, Social and Biological Race Jamie A. Thomas (Linguistics, Swarthmore College) - Discourses of Zombies and Afterlives Krista Thomason (Philosophy, Swarthmore College) - Moral Emotions and Human Rights Jess Wright (Classics, Princeton University) - Medieval Mappings of the Moral Brain |
|
RSS Feed