Tag: mercantile library

Center Events

Celebrated Series “A Pact With Reason” is Now Online

In the Summer of 2020, the Mercantile Library co-hosted “A Pact with Reason,” presented by Dr. Piers Bursill-Hall and co-sponsored by Dr. Zvi Biener and Dr. Terry Grundy. Bursill-Hall is a philosopher of science at Cambridge. His interests include the history of the development of math and science in Western societies. Grundy describes him as a “natural showman” who attracted a large, global audience, many of whom were not scientists or philosophers. The Mercantile Library reported one of the largest audiences they have had for an event. 

Conversations between Grundy and Bursill-Hall about  a “weakening fidelity to truth and reason” in society inspired the series. Despite the broad topic, they wanted to tell the story of Western civilization’s “Pact with Reason” and how it developed over the centuries. As Bursill-Hall wrapped up the 10-part series, the audience demanded—and even sponsored—a two-part encore expanding on the briefly, previously mentioned Galileo Affair.  

We are excited that this series is now available online. 

Affiliate Spotlight, Center Events

‘A Pact with Reason’ Online Lecture Series Starts July 16

Center Faculty Affiliate Zvi Biener is co-sponsoring A Pact With Reason, a series of ten free lectures by Dr. Piers Bursill-Hall of Cambridge University hosted by the Mercantile Library. The lectures will begin on Thursday, July 16, at 1:00 p.m. (EST) and continue weekly.

The lectures provide a dynamic overview of the rationalist, scientific tradition that has given human civilization some of its greatest triumphs but has also precipitated some of its greatest failures. The lectures are of timely importance since we see daily evidence that some are turning away from facts, science, and reason itself ­as the basis for structuring our everyday life and beliefs. This is a very dangerous turn of events and one that we need to combat vigorously. To do that, we need to understand our “pact with reason:” ­ how it emerged, the twists and turns it has taken for over two and a half millennia, and the place it has brought us to now in 2020. Those are the topics that will be covered in these ten lectures.

Piers Bursill-Hall is a highly regarded lecturer on the history and philosophy of science and mathematics at Cambridge University. His talks on the history of science, mathematics, and medicine are celebrated for their breadth of knowledge, insights, clarity, and wit.

You can register by emailing info@mercantilelibrary.com or at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/a-pact-with-reason-a/register. For more information, see: https://mercantilelibrary.com/calendar/a-pact-with-reason-a-lecture-series/2020-07-16/ 

Center Events

Nancy Tuana interviewed about climate change and social justice

In this Humanities Unbound episode of the Taft Research Center at the University of Cincinnati, Nancy Tuana (Penn State) speaks with Taft Center Director Amy Lind about how climate change affects women and men differently and other topics about climate change and social justice. You can listen to the episode here (link); the Humanities Unbound series is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode was recorded when Tuana visited Cincinnati this fall for CLIMATE CHANGE/CINCINNATI, an event series the UC Center for Public Engagement with Science put on with the Mercantile Library. See here (link) for a writeup about this series in CityBeat.

Center Events

Tonight! Climate Change and Cincinnati Life

Audience from the second event of the CLIMATE CHANGE/CINCINNATI series, which focused on the social justice implications of climate change.

The third and final event of the CLIMATE CHANGE/CINCINNATI series at the Mercantile Library in downtown Cincinnati is tonight. The series is cosponsored by our Center and the Taft Research Center, also at UC. This event, Climate Change and Cincinnati Life, is a panel discussion with local experts on sustainability steps being taken by local government and other entities, how local farming is impacted by climate change and can contribute to sustainability, and energy use and changes in our region.

Chris Anderson has written a really nice discussion of the Climate Change/Cincinnati series. Read the full article here (link).

Center Events

Nancy Tuana addresses climate change and social justice in Cincinnati

Nancy Tuana, Dupont/Class of 1948 Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies at Penn State, addressed a full house at the Mercantile Library in downtown Cincinnati. She discussed the formidable social justice implications of climate change, worldwide and locally here in Cincinnati. This was the second of three events in the series CLIMATE CHANGE/CINCINNATI.

Center Events

Climate Change and Social Justice

The second event of the CLIMATE CHANGE/CINCINNATI series the Center has organized with the Mercantile Library is tomorrow, September 12! Nancy Tuana, Professor of Philosophy and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Penn State, will address the relationship between climate change and social justice, showcasing the importance of the humanities to addressing scientific topics.

Learn more about the CLIMATE CHANGE/CINCINNATI series here. All three events in the series are full, so the Mercantile Library is no longer accepting reservations for Tuana’s talk. But you can still catch Tuana’s talk at UC on Friday, September 13. Details below.