Rationalists of East Tennessee - Current Newsletter

RET November Newsletter

Autumn's Last Act

October's brilliant colors have begun to fade, but November has a beauty all its own. The last golden leaves cling stubbornly to the oaks, morning frost dusts the fields, and the ridgelines of East Tennessee grow sharper with each cool front that sweeps through the valleys. The crowds of peak leaf season have thinned, leaving behind quieter trails, longer shadows, and a welcome sense of calm.

As the days grow shorter, many of us spend more time indoors with family, friends, books, and conversations that matter. November invites us to slow down and take stock of the year behind us. It's a season of gratitude, not only for what we have, but for the people and communities that enrich our lives.

Soon Thanksgiving tables will fill, winter holidays will appear on the horizon, and another year will begin its journey toward memory. For now, though, there is a brief season of stillness. The trees release their final leaves, the mountains settle into muted browns and grays, and nature reminds us that even periods of rest have their purpose. Before winter arrives, November offers one last chance to pause, breathe deeply, and appreciate the beauty all around us.

️ Don't Forget to Vote

In case you’ve forgotten, Election Day is almost here. Whatever your views, one of the most important rights and responsibilities of citizenship is participating in the democratic process. Every election is ultimately decided by the people who take the time to show up and make their voices heard.

As the late Congressman John Lewis often reminded us, “Democracy is not a state; it is an act.” Make a plan, know your polling location, and be sure your voice is counted.

"If we truly believe in a vibrant democracy, then we must have the highest voter turnout in the world."

— Bernie Sanders

What Is Skepticism, Really?

The word skeptic is often misunderstood. To some people, it means someone who rejects ideas, distrusts everything, or refuses to believe anything at all. But philosophical skepticism is something quite different.

At its heart, skepticism is not the denial of knowledge but the examination of it. A skeptic asks, "How do I know this is true?" Rather than accepting claims automatically or rejecting them outright, skeptics seek evidence, question assumptions, and remain open to changing their minds when new information becomes available.

The great skeptics of the ancient world understood that certainty can be elusive. They encouraged intellectual humility, recognizing that our perceptions, memories, and beliefs can sometimes mislead us. Yet their goal was not paralysis or cynicism. Instead, they hoped that careful questioning would lead to better understanding and wiser decisions.

In many ways, science itself is built on this skeptical spirit. Scientists propose explanations, test them against reality, and revise their views when the evidence demands it. Far from being a barrier to knowledge, skepticism is one of the tools that makes knowledge possible.

So perhaps skepticism is best understood not as doubting everything, but as being willing to ask one simple question: "How do we know what we know?"

If this interests you, you should really enjoy our first and third Sunday Meetings at Pellissippi Hardin Valley Campus.

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RET Monthly Calendar

November First Sunday Meeting

Sunday, November 1, 2026 — 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM (EST)

Location: PSCC, Hardin Valley Campus, Haslam Science Building, Room 1017

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83934607666?pwd=bMjoAh7gy5hPzG6JRuzbe5n4ytiiOb.1

Nathan Martin will present "Reality Is the Truth: Why Minds Have to Touch the World."

You're dropped into a game with no rules and no instructions. What do you do? You poke it, guess what will happen, and get corrected. Nathan Martin argues that this simple loop is the only way any mind ever learns anything, and that physics says so. Every knower, whether a brain or an AI, is a finite physical thing that can't think its way past what it hasn't touched.

Recent AI research provides a fascinating illustration. The same models that struggled with an interactive reasoning benchmark achieved perfect public scores once they were required to make predictions before acting. Come hear why Gödel, Landauer, and a 129-line instruction file all point in the same direction, and bring your best objections.

We meet in Room 1017 of the Haslam Science Building on the Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State Community College.

Blount County First Wednesday Meet‑up

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 — 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Location: Peaceful Side Brewery, 106 Everett Ave, Maryville, TN

Come join us at Peaceful Side Brewery for a relaxed evening of conversation, good drinks, and friendly faces. New folks are always welcome, and this monthly gathering is a great way to connect with fellow RET members in a casual setting.

Taproom Menu:

https://peacefulsidebrewery.com/taproom-menu/ (peacefulsidebrewery.com in Bing)

November RET Book Club

Sunday, November 8, 2026 — 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (EST)

Location: Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82096263421?pwd=JF1nDXAxSA4haQnvxufunUMQmhf84H.1

This month we'll discuss The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting: How the Science of Strategic Thinking Can Help You Deal with the Toughest Negotiators You Know—Your Kids by Paul Raeburn and Kevin Zollman.

As every parent knows, children can be surprisingly skilled negotiators. Drawing on concepts from economics, business, and game theory, the authors explore how strategies such as the Prisoner's Dilemma, the Ultimatum Game, and incentive structures can help parents navigate common challenges, from sharing toys and long car rides to homework routines and household conflicts.

Through engaging examples and real-world parenting dilemmas, Raeburn and Zollman show how strategic thinking can reduce conflict, improve cooperation, and help raise thoughtful, capable children while keeping family life a little more harmonious.

️November Field Trip to Big South Fork

Saturday, November 14, 2026 — 8:30 AM (EST)

Location: Kroger Parking Lot at Northshore and Pellissippi

Join us for a fall adventure to the Twin Arches in Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. Among the largest natural bridges in the eastern United States, the Twin Arches offers spectacular scenery, unique geology, and some of the most impressive natural features in the region.

We'll meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot behind the gas station at the Northshore and Pellissippi Kroger before organizing carpools for the trip.

Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy during our outing.

Rain Date: November 21, 2026

November Third Sunday Meeting

Sunday, November 15, 2026 — 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM (EST)

Location: PSCC, Hardin Valley Rd., Haslam Science Building, Room 1017

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86724925233?pwd=SERaMWaASekq6pxEZWR0xOSvqMga0q.1

Professor Shaw of the University of Tennessee Department of Philosophy will lead a discussion on varieties of skepticism in ancient philosophy and how they may inform contemporary conversations surrounding religion and related questions.

Drawing from philosophical traditions of antiquity, the presentation will explore issues of knowledge, uncertainty, and warranted belief. The discussion will examine how ancient skeptics approached questions that continue to challenge us today and consider what their insights may contribute to modern debates about religion, reason, and the nature of belief itself.

Whether you're interested in philosophy, critical thinking, religion, or the history of ideas, this promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of how perspectives from the distant past may still help us frame and reason through important questions today.

We meet in Room 1017 of the Haslam Math and Science Building on the Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State Community College.

November Reflections

Sunday, November 22, 2026 — 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM (EST)

Location: Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83803114191?pwd=pc3NUHssb4nhf9kOHmkaRbiny8TQ29.1

Is Your Aging Brain Trading Detail for Understanding the Big Picture?

Growing older is often associated with memory loss and declining mental abilities. But is that the whole story? What if the aging brain is adapting to a new stage of life, one in which accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and understanding become more valuable than remembering every detail?

When you compare your younger self with who you are today, do you notice a shift in perspective? Have you become less concerned with life's small frustrations and more focused on what truly matters?

This month's Reflections discussion will explore emerging research suggesting that some age-related changes in memory may be accompanied by improvements in recognizing patterns, drawing connections, and understanding the bigger picture. Join us as we discuss what growing older may gain us as well as what it may cost us.