'FOL University' Lectures: Weiner on Supreme Court, Powell on Evolution of Morality; Sunday March 26

FOL University, the Friends of the Library’s lecture program featuring renowned scholars, returns Sunday, March 26, at 1:30 p.m. in the library meeting room with two timely and fascinating topics. Boston University Philosophy Professor Russell Powell will discuss “The Evolution of Morality,” and Stephen A. Weiner (pictured), noted attorney and Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn, Cardozo and Hofstra Law Schools, will discuss “The U.S. Supreme Court: Where Do We Go from Here?"

Professor Powell at 1:30 p.m. will discuss: Why did morality evolve in humans? The prevailing evolutionary explanation holds that morality evolved in human hunter-gatherer groups because it promoted higher levels of within-group cooperation. But if morality evolved in an arena of competing groups, then morality also has a dark side because that implies that moral sympathies will be limited to members of one’s own group, tribe or nation, whereas other groups will tend to be excluded from the moral community. How then to explain the shift toward increasingly inclusive moralities over the last few centuries, from the abolition of slavery to the recognition of equal rights for women?

Russell Powell is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Center for Philosophy of Science at Boston University. Dr. Powell holds advanced degrees in philosophy of science, evolutionary biology and law. He received his B.A. in philosophy from SUNY Binghamton, his J.D. from NYU Law School, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy and M.S. in Biology from Duke University.

Future of Supreme Court

Following a brief refreshment break, at 3 p.m. Mr. Weiner will discuss the current dynamics of the eight-member Court, including the background of the current justices, the circumstances of their confirmations, and the pivotal role played by Justice Anthony Kennedy. He will review some crucial recent decisions of the Court, including the rulings on same sex marriage and the constitutionality of Obamacare. He will address efforts of President Trump to appoint a successor to Antonin Scalia.

Stephen A. Weiner, a Port Washington resident, is a retired Partner and Senior Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. He received his B.A. from Harvard and his J.D. from Yale Law School. Mr. Weiner has been engaged primarily in litigation in federal and state courts, with emphasis in the securities, commercial, banking and insurance areas. He is a member of the Character and Fitness Committee of the New York Appellate Division, First Department, is also a Special Master for that Court, and serves on the New York State Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law.

“We are so pleased to welcome these two accomplished speakers discussing such important issues,” said Ellen Zimmerman, vice president of the Friends and co-chair of FOL University. For more information on FOL events see www.pwpl.org/fol or email fol@pwpl.org.