Introduction

The Center for Inquiry Transnational in Amherst N.Y. announces the Naturalism Research Project, a major new effort to develop the theoretical and practical applications of philosophical naturalism. CFI’s libraries, research facilities, and conference areas will be available to scientists and scholars to advance the understanding of science’s methodologies and conclusions about naturalism. Philosophical naturalism is a worldview based on reason and science, without appeal to religious mythology or mysticism, which can be intelligently applied to improve the human condition. The need for defending philosophical naturalism has never been greater, as the dogmatic forces of supernaturalism and superstition continue to exert excessive control over humanity. The Center for Inquiry is among the leaders of the crucial intellectual battle against these forces of ignorance and irrationality.

Activities of the Naturalism Research Project will include lectures and seminars by visiting fellows and scholars; academic conferences; and support CFI publications of important research. Among the central issues of naturalism include the exploration of varieties of naturalism; problems in philosophy of science; the methodologies of scientific inquiry; naturalism and humanism; naturalistic ethics; planetary ethics; and naturalism and the biosciences.

The Naturalism Research Project is directed by John Shook, Vice President for Research, and formerly a professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University. Prominent scholars who have joined the Naturalism Research Project’s Advisory Committee include:

  • Mario Bunge (Philosophy, McGill University)
  • Arthur Caplan (Bioethics, Univ. of Pennsylvania)
  • David Chalmers (Australian National University)
  • Paul Draper (Philosophy, Purdue University)
  • Owen Flanagan (Philosophy, Duke University)
  • Philip Kitcher (Philosophy, Columbia University)
  • Paul Kurtz (Chairman, Center for Inquiry Transnational)
  • Valerií Kuvakin (Philosophy, Moscow State University)
  • Manuel A. Paz y Miño (Philosophy, Ricardo Palma University, Peru)
  • Steven Pinker (Psychology, Harvard University)
  • Huw Price (Philosophy, University of Sydney)
  • Hilary Putnam (Philosophy, Harvard University)
  • John Searle (Philosophy, Univ. of California, Berkeley)
  • Stephen Weinberg (Physics, University of Texas)
  • E. O. Wilson (Zoology, Harvard University)