EthicalStL.org Ethical Society of St. Louis

If our minds are the product of matter and if matter simply obeys strict natural laws, how can we have free will at all? This is one of the greatest philosophical questions of all, and a problem which is frequently used to attack materialistic Humanism. “Of course we have free will,” critics of materialism often say, “and materialism cannot account for that, so materialism must be wrong!” Is this correct? What is the evidence that we have free will, and what are the implications if we don’t? Are our choices truly our own? Find out in this lightning-fast tour through one of the most difficult philosophical terrains of all.

As Ethical Humanists, we strive to live our values. we are committed to ethical action and relationship building. Reciting our values and living them are two totally different things. How do we put our values into action? Which ones are hardest to implement in our daily lives? Does everyone deserve to be treated fairly and kindly? Join Leader-In-Training Louise Jett in exploring radical kindness, Humanist values and Ethical Culture.

Americans have never had more opportunities to express their views or greater access to information. Even so, we face an unprecedented crisis of free speech. Resource disparities and identity discrimination create deep disparities in speakers’ opportunities to reach audiences. Disinformation and the limits of human attention undermine our public discourse. Governments work overtime to suppress political protest and dissent. If the freedom of speech isn’t making our society better, then it isn’t the kind of freedom we need and deserve. To get that kind of freedom, we need to change the legal and political structures that keep failing us.

Ethical Culture is a tradition with a proud history but an uncertain future. While some Ethical Societies are strong and growing, the movement as a whole is shrinking, and it may not be long until there are only a handful of Ethical Societies left. How can we avoid this future? What do we need to change, in our home Societies and in our movement, to make Ethical Culture radical, vibrant, and growing once again?

Learn from the Founder and President of Skepticon Lauren Lane about how this unique conference came to be and how it continues to find success today. Lauren Lane is the Founder and Executive Director of Skepticon, a national conference located annually in St. Louis, MO that promotes skepticism, science education and community building. She earned her BFA in drawing from Missouri State University and her MFA in Interdisciplinary Studio from The Memphis College of Art. She currently makes art, things, and trouble in St. Louis, MO.

How can we meet the economic needs of all in the present while leaving equal or better economic opportunities for those of the future? This is the question of economic sustainability, and economic sustainability is not possible without ecological and social sustainability. There is no economic incentive for a person to do anything for the sole benefit of anyone else, and certainly not for the benefit of those of future generations. Thus, the question of economic sustainability is ultimately a question of ethics.