Thought Experiments

We’re very excited to present our final Einstein’s Dreams Central Conversation as a pre-show discussion with Alan Lightman (author of Einstein’s Dreams), psychologist Steven Pinker & author/philosopher Rebecca Goldstein on the similarities and differences between how scientists, such as Einstein, and artists use metaphors in their work.

Rebecca Goldstein holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University and an Honorary Doctorate from Emerson College, and among her many awards and fellowships, has been designated a Humanist Laureate by the International Academy of Humanists, received both Guggenheim and Radcliffe Fellowships and is a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant. Most recently, The White House announced Ms. Goldstein as a distinguished recipient of the 2014 National Humanities Medal.

Steven Pinker is currently the Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard, and has been awarded prizes by the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and the American Psychological Association for his research on visual cognition and the psychology of language. He holds eight honorary doctorates, often writes for the New York Times, Time, and The New Republic, and has been named one of Time magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People in the World Today.”

Alan Lightman holds a Ph.D in theoretical physics from the California Institute of Technology, as well as four honorary degrees. He was the first professor at MIT to receive a joint appointment in the sciences and the humanities. Professor Lightman also co-founded the Catalyst Collaborative@MIT, the collaboration between MIT and URT with the goal of conveying the culture of science through theater.  You may remember him from last season’s Mr g, which, like Einstein’s Dreams, was an adaptation of one of his books.

All Central Conversations are open to the public; seats are available on a first come, first serve basis.