Up for debate

“You don’t see with your eyes; you perceive with your mind,“ a classic Gorillaz song was brought to my mind as I left UPEI’s latest Research on Tap presentation. “The Puzzle of Existence and Reality” from Philosophy professor Dr. Nebojsa Kujundzic. I’m not built for institutional learning. I figured that out in university, but I am a huge geek. I seek out knowledge on various subjects, deep diving for fun all the time. I just love learning. There is something different about being in a room full of people all interested in the same topic though. The madness of crowds can sometimes result in reason, and as with the subject being a philosophical matter, reflection.

As I pulled into Upstreet Brewing’s parking lot, I wondered if my perception may already be bending around reality. It seemed a faraway white noise was building. It turned out the radio dial just got bumped. Yet I couldn’t help but laugh at the synchronicity. The place was completely packed! I was told by multiple people that Dr. Neb always gets a crowd out. His students and peers described him as ‘beloved.’ I could see why. He spoke with authority but in a jovial manner. You wanted to listen. He literally brought out the Oxford dictionary and it didn’t seem a weird thing at all, completely natural at the mic.

I won’t go far into his discussion but the main premise revolved around how some things exist without being real and others are real without existing physically. That language and technological advances continually impact our conception of the two. As someone who loves to peek around for the webs of connection in this existence, I totally dug it. If you’re interested as well, do some digging into Dr. Kujundzic’s works too. 

The Research on Tap series has been going on for years now, and Upstreet seems to be the current establishment holding these gatherings. Various researchers come out and informally talk about their work and then open the floor for questions. There was also some free food and of course, drinks to purchase. Knowledge sharing is an integral part of human nature. We are built for it—sensory beings who have evolved with complex communication systems. Sharing a meal, a drink and a discussion may be one of the most ancestral human activities we still partake in regularly. It’s beautiful and fundamental in my opinion.

The presentation and question period really set off some conversations in the room. It got rowdy in there; people were engaged. Debates ensued. Heck yes I say! That is another element I appreciated, we don’t debate each other in person nearly enough anymore. Or when we do, it seems more like an argument than a discussion of opposing viewpoints. So much of our discord takes place online, in silos. When in reality, I think we all understand that there exists entirely different outcomes from healthy face to face engagement. Check out the next free event and decide for yourself.