The board of the Philosophy and Engineering Department has the pleasure of inviting you to the discussion evening on 13 February next on the topic:

To all (im)probability

On 19 March 2019, in collaboration with the Society for Philosophy, a lecture will be given by Prof Dr N.P. (Klaas) Landsman on the topic "Towards all (un)probability, on the role of chance in science and philosophy."

Coincidence or not, the board intends to devote the evening on 13 February at the first meeting of the year to exchange views among themselves on the yawning gap between human decision-making and the gigantic speed at which programmed decision-making can be carried out through rapid data processing. Human decision-making is slow and goes through stages of imagination (perception, imaging), inspiration (will to act) and intuition. Data processing is deterministically causal and gigantically fast. Data storage is binary and not time bound, while human memory selectively filters and fades over time. How will intuition begin to claim its place? After all, intuition is a way of knowing that is completely beyond conceptual thinking and step-by-step reasoning. Also, do you actually see what you see, and can the processing of data into known law-based relationships be trusted?

There is a lecture on YouTube that we recommend watching in preparation for this evening. It can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFxPMMkhHuA.

There will be a short introduction from the board to start the conversation. For more information on Prof Landsman's lecture, see https://www.trouw.nl/home/probeer-het-toeval-niet-te-verklaren-anders-blijf-je-bezig~af7c83fd/

Please also think about what topics you, as a member, would like to see lectured. Please pass on ideas to secretary Johan Hengst(jhengst@outlook.com).

NB The location of the meeting has changed. The meeting room is located above Restaurant Se7en. This is also within walking distance of Utrecht CS station.