Summary
February 2, 2026 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM ET
Presented by the Lyceum Society
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Welcome and Introductions: 11:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Main Presentation: 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM
Alchemy, AI and Snow’s Two Cultures in Historical Perspective
Farzad Mahootian
I will explore the imaginal space between four themes: alchemy, Jung, the history of science, and AI. The talk will interweave these themes in ways that reflect my mind since early adulthood. I am recently energized by support from NYU’s IT office and library in my efforts to render my mode of investigation consistent with its subject matter, as I consider chemists and historians of chemistry. Chemists have benefited greatly by integrating computational tools to exponentially expand chemical space. By contrast, historians of chemistry and alchemy have been somewhat less enthusiastic about applying computational methods to their domain. This is not a question of technophobia exclusively, it’s a cultural issue. I believe that AI can efface some of the structural barriers between C.P. Snow’s “two cultures.”
Speaker
Farzad Mahootian has been a Clinical Associate Professor of Global Liberal Studies at New York University since 2010. He has an interdisciplinary background (PhD Philosophy, Fordham; MS Chemistry, Georgetown). His research focuses on interactions between philosophy, science and society within the mythological imagination. His interests include process philosophy, coupled systems, artificial intelligence, and premodern sciences. Recent publications include “Jung and Whitehead: An Interplay of Psychological and Philosophical Perspectives,” “Kant, Cassirer, and the Idea of Chemical Element.”
Pricing
All: Free
About the Series
The Lyceum Society is a collegial venue promoting fellowship, education, and discussion among retired members of The New York Academy of Sciences. Learn more and explore other events hosted by the Lyceum Society.
Registration
This event is open for registration.