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Embark on a transformative journey in this enlightening series on death and its mysteries. Discover unique perspectives and gain insight into the timeless question of human experience: what is death?
The University of Toledo and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library present this thought-provoking and enlightening lecture series that explores the multifaceted aspects of death, and its significance in human existence and fosters a deeper understanding of death’s impact on individuals, families, and society.
Distinguished scholars from diverse fields will share knowledge, expertise, and perspectives on death. Through a wide range of captivating lectures, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on death, dying, and themselves.
What Makes a Person? Life, Death, and the Brain
Are we alive for as long as our brains function? Are we ourselves if parts of our brains lose function, which parts? Are we alive if we lose consciousness permanently while our bodies still function? Dr. Sarnecki and Dr. Smith will discuss the philosophy and neuroscience behind the notions of personhood, consciousness, and brain death.
Presented by:
John Sarnecki is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Toledo. He joined the faculty in Toledo after completing his Ph.D. at Rutgers University in 2002. John’s research has explored the origins and development of conceptual capacities both in children and in the evolution of cognitive capacities. He has also written on the evolutionary development of empathy, prehistoric hunting, and contagious yawning. His recent work has addressed moral problems in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and our obligations to preserve antiquities in wartime.
Robert Smith, MD, PhD completed his BS degree with highest distinction and Honors in biochemistry from Indiana University in 1990. He completed his MD and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan in 1997, and he completed a research track residency in Psychiatry in 2002. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious ACNP travel award, the ACP Laughlin Fellowship, the ECNP Rafaelsen Scholar, as well as the Kempf Fund award from the APA. He has been continuously funded for the past 16 years by NIMH, with work focusing on the pathophysiology of complex brain disorders, including schizophrenia. His recent work includes using bioinformatics approaches to test hypotheses using large publicly available databases, with the goal of repurposing or first-purposing FDA approved drugs or library-sourced compounds, respectively. Dr. Smith is currently the Chair of the Neurosciences Department and Interim Chair of the Psychiatry Department at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and the Research Director of the ProMedica Neurosciences Center, Toledo, OH, USA.
