© Nour Foundation 2014© Nour Foundation 2018© Randy Van Duinen 2018© Nour Foundation 2023© Nour Foundation 2019OverviewAn interdisciplinary exploration of the perennial questions facing humanityInspired by the life and work of the late Ostad Elahi—a contemporary thinker, jurist, and master musician who devoted his life to the pursuit of self-knowledge and the perennial questions facing humanity—the Foundation presents an array of informed discourse rooted not only in sound theories, but in the shared commonality of our personal experience as well. Ostad Elahi Exploring Meaning & Commonality in Human Experience In an age dominated by information and technology, where can we turn to find an existential roadmap, one that can address the enduring questions of our existence while helping us to navigate the myriad challenges and dilemmas of daily life? How can the rational pursuit of meaning and spirituality be integrated into the demands and exigencies of our contemporary lives? Featured EventsA collection of thought-provoking discussions on such topics as the nature of reality and the mystery of human consciousness The Enduring Enigma of the Mind Where does the human mind begin? If we equate the mind with consciousness, should we account for its emergence as a by-product of evolution, or should we accept it instead as a fundamental feature of reality, on a par with concepts such as matter and energy? Does the mind only exist in animals with brains, or does it have a deeper, possibly cosmic meaning? The question runs through the intellectual... Learn More Thursday, November 17, 2022 Unraveling the Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness Few words in our language appear to cover such a broad and flexible swath of ideas as “the mind.” But what, actually, is the human mind? How does it relate to and differ from its seemingly inseparable companion, the brain? Where does the mind begin or emerge from? Is it merely a by-product of neural activities within the brain, or... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Thursday, November 17, 2022 Unraveling the Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness Few words in our language appear to cover such a broad and flexible swath of ideas as “the mind.” But what, actually, is the human mind? How does it relate to and differ from its seemingly inseparable companion, the brain? Where does the mind begin or emerge from? Is it merely a by-product of neural activities within the brain, or... Videos Full Video Unraveling the Mind:The Mystery of Consciousness Highlights Can Science Solve the Quandary of Consciousness? Panpsychism in a Nutshell A Materialist, a Mysterian, and a Panpsychist Speculate on Consciousness Does Philosophy Play a Role in the Study of Consciousness? Panpsychism: An Intelligible Solution to the Mind-Body Problem? The Philosophical History of Consciousness Scientists & Philosophers: An Adversarial Collaboration? × Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Fathoming the Mind: A Closer Look at the Formation of Self Recent research in animal behavior and culture shows that the mental capacities of animals have been largely undervalued. And yet it is hard to resist the impression of a gap—a difference in nature rather than degree—between humans and non-humans when it comes to certain tasks involving abstraction, planning, sustained attention, or the transmission of culture over generations. How different is... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Fathoming the Mind: A Closer Look at the Formation of Self Recent research in animal behavior and culture shows that the mental capacities of animals have been largely undervalued. And yet it is hard to resist the impression of a gap—a difference in nature rather than degree—between humans and non-humans when it comes to certain tasks involving abstraction, planning, sustained attention, or the transmission of culture over generations. How different is... Videos Full Video Fathoming the Mind: A Closer Look at the Formation of Self Highlights The Amazing Emotional Lives of Animals Can AI Ever Develop Consciousness or a Sense of Self? Emotion: The Engine of Civilization Different Cultures, Different Selves Why Do Humans Spread Culture and Innovate? Sociobiology: How Much of Human Behavior is Instinct-Driven? When Do Children Start Developing a Sense of Self? The Singularity of Humans Intelligence Defined in Three Different Ways The Sense of Self: The Utility of the Mirror Test × Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Cultivating the Mind: Reason and the Pursuit of Ethical Transformation Rationality, long considered a distinctive characteristic of the human mind, provides us with the capacity for understanding and discernment, as well as the ability to introduce order into our thoughts by allowing us to form higher-order volitions, adopt values, establish priorities, and achieve a level of consistency in our actions across time. The ancient Socratic ideal of the “examined life”... Learn More Richard Davidson, PhD Richard Davidson is William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, he is the Director... Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Cultivating the Mind: Reason and the Pursuit of Ethical Transformation Rationality, long considered a distinctive characteristic of the human mind, provides us with the capacity for understanding and discernment, as well as the ability to introduce order into our thoughts by allowing us to form higher-order volitions, adopt values, establish priorities, and achieve a level of consistency in our actions across time. The ancient Socratic ideal of the “examined life”... Videos Full Video Cultivating the Mind: Reason and the Pursuit of Ethical Transformation Highlights Awe: A Compass to Meaning Can Happiness be Learned? Aristotle: The Founding Father of Happiness? Physical Health and Embodied Emotions Happiness v. Well-Being × The Power of Wonder: Modern Marvels in the Age of Science The feelings of awe and wonder engendered by astonishing or mysterious natural phenomena are as old as humanity itself. According to the classical account of rationality, the end of inquiry—the production of a viable explanation—should also serve to diffuse these emotions. Yet, the cultural and spiritual significance of wonder and its psychological underpinnings seem to suggest a different... Learn More Thursday, October 10, 2019 Unpacking Wonder: From Curiosity to Comprehension Social psychologist Michelle "Lani" Shiota, writer Caspar Henderson, and astrophysicist Alex Filippenko unpack the emerging science behind the emotion of awe and wonder, and its function in our ongoing quest for understanding and knowledge.Steve Paulson Steven Paulson is the executive producer and an interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a radio program produced at Wisconsin Public... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Thursday, October 10, 2019 Unpacking Wonder: From Curiosity to Comprehension Social psychologist Michelle "Lani" Shiota, writer Caspar Henderson, and astrophysicist Alex Filippenko unpack the emerging science behind the emotion of awe and wonder, and its function in our ongoing quest for understanding and knowledge. Videos Full Video Unpacking Wonder: From Curiosity to Comprehension Highlights How Awe and Wonder Stretch the Mind The Driving Force of Wonder The Scientific Study of Wonder The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality "The Most Beautiful Emotion That We Can Experience" Does Science Spoil the Experience of Wonder? Ways of Knowing × Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Beyond Oneself: The Ethics and Psychology of Awe Prof. of religious studies and ethicist Lisa Sideris joins psychologists Jennifer Stellar and Piercarlo Valdesolo to explore our understanding of how awe shapes our perspectives and views on everything from science to morality.Steve Paulson Steven Paulson is the executive producer and an interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a radio program produced at Wisconsin Public... Learn More Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Beyond Oneself: The Ethics and Psychology of Awe Prof. of religious studies and ethicist Lisa Sideris joins psychologists Jennifer Stellar and Piercarlo Valdesolo to explore our understanding of how awe shapes our perspectives and views on everything from science to morality. Videos Full Video Beyond Oneself: The Ethics and Psychology of Awe Highlights Is Wonder Cognitive or Emotional? Spiritual Awe vs. Scientific Awe The Ethics of Awe and Wonder The New Psychology of Awe The Experience of Everyday Awe Is Scientific Wonder Superior to Religious Wonder? How to Cultivate Wonder × Wednesday, February 5, 2020 The Enigma of Life: Confronting Marvels at the Edges of Science Physicist Marcelo Gleiser, experimental psychologist Tania Lombrozo, and physician Gavin Francis analyze the impact of awe and wonder on their own work and on the mindsets of their colleagues carrying out cutting-edge scientific research.Steve Paulson Steven Paulson is the executive producer and an interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge, a radio program produced at Wisconsin Public... Learn More Marcelo Gleiser, PhD is a world-renowned theoretical physicist and award-winning author, and is currently the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and a professor of physics... Learn More Learn More Learn More Watch Details Wednesday, February 5, 2020 The Enigma of Life: Confronting Marvels at the Edges of Science Physicist Marcelo Gleiser, experimental psychologist Tania Lombrozo, and physician Gavin Francis analyze the impact of awe and wonder on their own work and on the mindsets of their colleagues carrying out cutting-edge scientific research. Videos Full Video The Enigma of Life: Confronting Marvels at the Edges of Science Highlights The Paradox of Knowledge The Right Dose of Awe and Wonder Translating Awe and Wonder into Behavior How Is Wonder Different for Children than Adults? Why Do We Have the Capacity for Wonder? The Ethical Dimensions of Awe The Moral Imperative of Scientists The Use of Psychedelics in Psychiatry ×