November 2021

The American Philosophical Society acknowledges with respect that it resides in Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people, whose historical relationships with this land continue to this day. We recognize their continued presence and perseverance, despite centuries of land theft, removal, and persecution of their language and cultural traditions. We honor the Lenape community – and those of other native peoples – through our collections, fellowships, research awards, and outreach activities.

**The November 2021 Meeting of the American Philosophical Society will not be held in person. All talks will be held via Zoom webinar.**

Meetings of the American Philosophical Society are held each April and November for elected Members, their families, and distinguished guests. This November, sessions will be available to Members and invited guests via webinar. Most sessions will be recorded and available to watch after the Meeting through the Society's Youtube channel.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 3:30 p.m.

Stated Meeting of Society Council
(virtual)

Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

Linda Greenhouse
President, in the Chair

Keynote Address
Science and the People: A Constitution for Our Time

Sheila Jasanoff
Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University

Thursday, November 11, 2021, 1:00 p.m.

Elizabeth Cropper
Vice President, in the Chair

Session 1

Romans of the Decadence
Mary Beard
Professor of Classics
University of Cambridge

The Reason for the Darkness of the Night:  Poe and the Forging of American Science
John Tresch
Mellon Professor in Art History, History of Science, and Folk Practice
The Warburg Institute
School of Advanced Study, University of London

Why a World Drowning in AI Needs Another AI:  Anthropology Intelligence
Gillian Tett
Chair, Editorial Board and U.S. Editor-at-Large
Financial Times

Presentation of Society Prizes and Awards

Thursday, November 11, 2021, 3:30 p.m.

Jacqueline K. Barton
Vice President, in the Chair

Session 2

AI, Robots, and You
Ruzena Bajcsy
Professor Emeritus, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Director Emeritus, Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society
University of California, Berkeley

And

Vijay Kumar
Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering
University of Pennsylvania

Shape
Jordan Ellenberg
Professor of Mathematics
University of Wisconsin–Madison

How to Form a Habitable Planet
Meredith MacGregor
Assistant Professor, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences
University of Colorado, Boulder

Thursday, November 11, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

Session 3

Metamorphosis
{as inspired by Franz Kafka and Philip Glass (APS, 2009)}
David Greilsammer, Pianist
Live Concert from Benjamin Franklin Hall

Friday, November 12, 2021, 1:00 p.m.

Stated Meeting of Society Members
(Link Open at 12:30 p.m. for Informal Conversation Among Attendees)

Friday, November 12, 2021, 3:30 p.m.

Robert M. Hauser
Executive Officer, in the Chair

Session 4

The Soul of “Soul”: The Spiritual Journey of Black America
(this talk was not recorded)
Harold S. Forsythe
Adjunct Lecturer, History and Political Science
City College of New York

Guns, Democracy, and Inequality
Reva Siegel
Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Professor of Law
Yale Law School

Centenarians:  A Human Model of Resilience, Even Resistance
Thomas Perls
Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine
Boston University
Director, New England Centenarian Study