Book Q&A at Manny’s

Join us for a spooky salon about Philosophical Zombies—these zombies won’t eat your brains, but they might be even scarier!

A Philosophical Zombie is a hypothetical being that looks and acts just like a human, but has no conscious sensations, feelings, or emotions. It’s completely dark inside. Could such a being exist? If you discovered that your best friend was this kind of zombie, would you still care about them and treat them the same?

Info Here

Join us for a taste of the Parlor of Ideas in our philosophy room at NewKid Days. This is an event is for the intentional moms and dads out there and any curious minds who want scientific and thoughtful content wrapped in conversations – NewKid builds bridges between research, startups, education and philosophy. And includes our children in the loop, too! Isn’t it our role to empower them?

Our philosophy room will have activities and discussion tools for curious minds of all ages, with an emphasis on puzzles about philosophy of AI. Will robots ever experience the color pink (as you do)? Do chatbots really understand words like “dog”? Can a robot ever be a true friend? And is it ok to use AI to write a love letter? Fill out our inquiry diagrams to earn tickets to use toward prizes, browse our selection of philosophical books and games, challenge your senses with our illusions, and play with our interactive exhibits!

Info here

Book Q&A at Manny’s

Join us for a Q&A with renowned cognitive scientist Tania Lombrozo on the science of explanation and the surprisingly powerful role it plays in our lives.

In her new book, Why We Ask Why, Lombrozo explores one of our most fundamental human habits: the drive to understand why things happen. From everyday questions about traffic and relationships to deeper questions about meaning and existence, our explanations shape how we learn, connect with others, and make sense of the world.

Drawing on psychology, philosophy, scientific research, and lively stories, Lombrozo will explore what makes an explanation satisfying, why we gravitate toward simple explanations, how explanations influence learning and decision-making, and how better explanations can help us create meaning and inspire change.

Join us for a fascinating evening with Lombrozo as she reveals why the questions we ask—and the explanations we choose—can have a profound impact on how we understand ourselves, one another, and the world around us.

Info here

Mind the Gap: Cognitive Illusions

Dive into how we perceive the world and each other!

The Exploratorium Philosophy Salon invites you to explore “cognitive illusions”, the mental shortcuts and biases that shape how we think and make decisions. From confirmation bias to echo chambers, we’ll discuss how these patterns influence the way we interpret information, evaluate risks, and form beliefs. Bring your curiosity and insights, grab a drink, and reflect on how understanding cognitive illusions can reveal the hidden workings—and occasional pitfalls—of the human mind.

Info here

Mind the Gap: Sensory Illusions

Dive into how we perceive the world and each other!

This session of the Exploratorium Philosophy Salon—Mind the Gap: Sensory Illusions—invites you to join the discussion in exploring how we perceive the world through our senses. Illusions happen when our senses are fooled, but they reveal the (usually good) workings of our senses. Vision presents to us a world carved up into objects, with colors and shapes and locations. But do we only see with our eyes? Hearing gives us sounds with locations and causes, but do we only hear with our ears? Taste gives us flavors, of sour and sweet and strawberry and cinnamon. But do we only taste with our tongues? Bring your own questions and observations as we explore the wedge between the world and our sensory experiences of the world.

Info Here

Mind the Gap: Masks, Goggles, and the Search for Authenticity

Dive into how we perceive the world and each other!

This session of the Exploratorium Philosophy Salon—Mind the Gap: Masks, Goggles, and the Search for Authenticity—invites you to join the discussion in exploring how we perceive the world and one another. Together, we’ll reflect on the “masks” and filters—perceptual, linguistic, cognitive, and literal—that shape our understanding. When do these lenses help us connect more deeply, and when do they get in the way? Bring your own questions and observations as we explore authentic connection and imagine a future that brings us closer to each other and to reality.

Info Here

(All Ages)

Join The Paradox Lab On the gallery floor to explore questions about AI:

• Is AI dumber than a cat?

• Are video games like dreams for a computer?

• What would it take for a machine’s words to be meaningful to the machine?

• What would it take for a machine to genuinely see red?

• When should we trust AI?

Details Here

(All Ages)

Join The Paradox Lab On the gallery floor to explore questions about AI:

• Is AI dumber than a cat?

• Are video games like dreams for a computer?

• What would it take for a machine’s words to be meaningful to the machine?

• What would it take for a machine to genuinely see red?

• When should we trust AI?

Details Here

(Ages 18+)

Join The Paradox Lab On the gallery floor to explore questions about AI:

• Is AI dumber than a cat?

• Are video games like dreams for a computer?

• What would it take for a machine’s words to be meaningful to the machine?

• What would it take for a machine to genuinely see red?

• When should we trust AI?

Details Here

Fundraiser for the Paradox Lab: Celebration of Mind Halloween party. Come in a mind-blowing costume and enjoy puzzles, illusions, magic, art, and booze, and more. 

More info at:  http://www.celebrationofmind.org/events/sensory-tricks-and-science-treats

$5 Entrance fee

Have you ever wondered if colors look the same to others as they do to you, or if robots could ever feel love, or if the world 'out there' is at all the way you experience it in your mind, 'in here'? Come explore these questions and more with playful, interactive exhibits and discussions. Kids of all ages are welcome (including grown-up ones)! This event is an introduction to The Paradox Lab.

$5 entrance fee

Limit 60 guests

Children under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult