http://hplusclub.com/visalia/meeting20080427/

Visalia Skeptics - First Meeting

Date and Time: Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM PDT

Location: Borders - 3415 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93277, USA | Google Maps

Description:

Meetup.com: The Visalia Skeptics

At the first meeting I will bring free literature and video media that will deal with many subjects.

Transhumanism-Transhumanism is a movement that has developed gradually over the past two decades. It promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology. Attention is given to both present technologies, like genetic engineering and information technology, and anticipated future ones, such as molecular nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.

Evolutionism-Evolutionism is a world-view, which seeks to explain every aspect of this world in which we live. It encompasses a wide variety of topics, from astronomy to chemistry to biology. At its core, it teaches that there were different stages in the evolution of our universe.

The Singularity-The Singularity is an era in which our intelligence will become increasingly nonbiological and trillions of times more powerful than it is today?the dawning of a new civilization that will enable us to transcend our biological limitations and amplify our creativity.

Skepticism-Modern skepticism is embodied in the scientific method, which involves gathering data to formulate and test naturalistic explanations for natural phenomena. A claim becomes factual when it is confirmed to such an extent it would be reasonable to offer temporary agreement. But all facts in science are provisional and subject to challenge, and therefore skepticism is a method leading to provisional conclusions.

Neuroscience-Neuroscience is at the frontier of investigation of the brain and mind. The study of the brain is becoming the cornerstone in understanding how we perceive and interact with the external world and, in particular, how human experience and human biology influence each other.