Free Thinkers - Nottingham

This month, we will be joined by Gordon Dabinett, who is a promoter of local steering group politics. This group has been growing in success in Sheffield recently, advocating better public transport and infrastructure for local people.

We will discuss the increasing centralisation and technocratic mission creep of our supposed democratic society.

This month's format will be slightly different, in that we want a larger audience participation. I'm encouraging people to think up questions beforehand and then to put myself and Gordon on the spot in a quickfire round. Hopefully, we will be able to answer these questions. If we can't, then our 'facts' will have been disputed successfully.

As always, this is a free event. We only ask that everyone buys at least one drink from the bar downstairs (non-alcoholic beverages available). We're also a friendly group that discourages offensive language and respects everyone's opinions.

Look forward to debating with you all.

Few things define human experience quite like consciousness, and yet it remains one of life’s great mysteries. Where does it come from? How did it evolve? Is it unique to humans — or even real at all? Philosophers and scientists have debated these questions for centuries, and while we’ve gained insights, definitive answers remain elusive. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, new questions are only multiplying.

Consciousness shapes our moral intuitions and forces us to question the nature of reality itself. In this talk, Robin Carling will guide us through the mainstream theories — with a glimpse of the fringe — before opening the floor to debate one of today’s most pressing issues: could AI ever be conscious?

So join us for an interesting debate/talk. Once again, can I ask that everyone buys at least one drink from the bar downstairs (non-alcoholic included) as this event is free. As always, please be cordial and allow everyone to have an opinion.

Look forward to debating with everyone.