November 19 · Chicago-Kent College of Law
Philosophers from UChicago, Loyola, Illinois Tech, UIC, Northwestern and NIU debate what philosophy can tell us about a world shaped by AI. You question them, score them and keep talking over pizza, sandwiches, donuts, beer and wine.
11 seats leftDoors open in 6 days 11 hours
Artificial intelligence brings new urgency to philosophical questions about knowledge, judgment and what it means to think. In a live debate, that inquiry becomes a shared experience: we can follow another person’s reasoning, hear an objection we hadn’t considered, and discover where our own convictions become harder to explain. We’re bringing that experience to Chicago-Kent College of Law, with time to meet before the program and continue the conversation afterward.
01A serious counterargument can reveal something a speech alone cannot. Follow the speakers as they develop their positions, question one another’s assumptions and respond to objections.
02You score each speaker from your phone on persuasion, evidence, clarity and refutation, and the floor opens for your questions. Arrive with a settled view or without one.
03The reception gives us time to get to know one another and explore ideas beyond the formal exchange. Come with friends or on your own.
04Pizza, sandwiches, donuts, beer and wine are included with every ticket, so dinner is part of the evening.
The featured debate
What can philosophy help us understand about a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? The evening brings questions of knowledge, judgment and meaning into a live debate.
Featured speaker
Instructional Professor in Philosophy, University of Chicago
Benjamin Callard has taught at the University of Chicago since 2008. His research spans ethics, metaphysics and epistemology, with further interests in the philosophy of mind, language and mathematics. He received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.
Read Benjamin Callard’s SuperDebate profile Read Benjamin Callard’s faculty profile (opens in a new tab)
Featured speaker
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago
Seyed N. Mousavian’s research focuses on contemporary philosophy of language and its history, with publications on fiction, non-existence and empty terms. He taught at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden before joining Loyola University Chicago in 2021. He received his PhD from the University of Alberta.
Read Seyed N. Mousavian’s SuperDebate profile Read Seyed N. Mousavian’s faculty profile (opens in a new tab)
Featured speaker
Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, Illinois Tech
Sydney Harvey studies how environment, embodied emotion, perception and ethical engagement relate in human and machine minds. At Illinois Tech she teaches Ethics of Technology: Mind and Media, a course she designed on minds and machines, AI’s effects on human flourishing and algorithms in online media. She completed her PhD at the CUNY Graduate Center in September 2026, with a dissertation on artificial intelligence, mind and aesthetics.
Read Sydney Harvey’s SuperDebate profile Read Sydney Harvey’s Illinois Tech profile (opens in a new tab)
Featured speaker
Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois Chicago
Anthony Laden works in the philosophy of education, political philosophy and social epistemology, and has written on trust, reasoning together, civility and democracy. He is the author of Reasoning: A Social Picture and Networks of Trust, and Associate Director of the Center for Ethics and Education. He received his PhD from Harvard University.
Read Anthony Laden’s SuperDebate profile Read Anthony Laden’s faculty profile (opens in a new tab)
Featured speaker
Chester D. Tripp Professor in the Humanities, Department of Philosophy, Northwestern University
Sanford Goldberg works in epistemology, the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, with particular interest in social epistemology and the epistemology of testimony. His books include Relying on Others, Assertion and Conversational Pressure. He received his PhD from Columbia University.
Read Sanford Goldberg’s SuperDebate profile Read Sanford Goldberg’s faculty profile (opens in a new tab)
Featured speaker
Professor, Media Studies, and Chair, Department of Communication, Northern Illinois University
David Gunkel works on AI law and ethics, human-machine communication and the philosophy of technology. His books include The Machine Question: Critical Perspectives on AI, Robots and Ethics, Robot Rights and Person, Thing, Robot. He received his PhD from DePaul University.
Read David Gunkel’s SuperDebate profile Read David Gunkel’s faculty profile (opens in a new tab)Program update
We’ll announce the exact resolutions here, along with the order of speakers.
October 21, 2026
Our October 21 gathering brought people together for debates about AI, creativity and human oversight, followed by conversation over food and drinks. These photographs and the recap offer a glimpse of the people and atmosphere of our first Chicago event.
Debate 01
Debate 02
The program also included an interactive session with Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert on how groups reason, question assumptions and reconsider.
Sold out
$20per person
The lowest price for the full evening.
Available now
$30per person
Admission to the featured debate, audience discussion and reception.
Support the showcase
$60per person
Full evening admission, with recognition for supporting the Chicago series.
Every ticket includes the featured debate, audience questions and scoring, the reception, and pizza, sandwiches, donuts, beer and wine.
Chicago-Kent College of Law students and faculty attend free.
You can check out as a guest. After payment is confirmed, your ticket page shows your booking, and we’ll email your confirmation and private ticket link. Bringing more than 30 people? Email john@superdebate.org. Already bought? Find your ticket.
The running order
Thursday, November 19, 2026
5:30 PM CST – 9:30 PM CST
Detailed program timings will be added once the running order is finalized.
Meet other guests over pizza, sandwiches, donuts, beer and wine before the program begins.
John Connor and Matthew Rolnick introduce the evening and the Chicago community.
Benjamin Callard, Seyed N. Mousavian, Sydney Harvey, Anthony Laden, Sanford Goldberg and David Gunkel debate philosophy in the age of AI.
An opportunity to contribute questions and evaluate the arguments.
Time to continue the discussion with other guests before the evening closes.
All times PM · Chicago
John Connor and Matthew Rolnick host the second Chicago Super Debate at Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Host
John is the founder of SuperDebate, a serial entrepreneur and technologist who has spent a decade building products and advising technology companies. A former city-wide varsity debate champion from Chicago’s South Side, he credits debate with teaching him to research unfamiliar ideas, think under pressure and understand a worldview before responding to it. He is bringing that experience into a community people can join throughout adult life.
Co-host
Matthew Rolnick is a SuperDebate advisory board member whose work centers on partnerships, sponsorships and live experiences. His background includes leadership roles at Yaymaker and Groupon, as well as collaborations with organizations including Google and Salesforce.
“In the age of AI, people are coming back to philosophy. It gives us a way to navigate meaning and truth, the two things we are most at risk of losing in an age of hyperintelligence.”
Community suggestions
What would you like to hear debated in Chicago? Support the questions that interest you or suggest one of your own. We’ll use that input as we develop the local program.
Support as many topics as you like. The organizers will shape the final selection from your votes and suggestions.
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Joining the evening
$30
Join the gathering, on your own or with people you’d enjoy sharing the evening with.
Get ticketsGroup bookings
Philosophy societies, university groups, professional communities and groups of friends are welcome. See the ticket section for current group pricing and eligibility.
View group pricingPartnership inquiries
If your organization would like to introduce the event to a relevant audience or discuss a promotional partnership, get in touch.
Discuss a collaborationYou can check out as a guest. Your confirmation email includes a private link to your booking.
The venue
Chicago-Kent College of Law, the law school of Illinois Tech, is our partner for the night and hosts the debate at its campus in the West Loop.
Chicago-Kent College of Law students and faculty attend free.
For questions about visiting the venue or access requirements, contact john@superdebate.org before booking.
Beyond the showcase
If you’d like to stay involved beyond this event, Chicago Debate Club offers further opportunities to take part in local debates and discussion.
Visit the club page for upcoming gatherings and information about joining.
The Chicago series
Explore our first Chicago showcase and see what is being planned for later editions. Each event page carries its current program and booking details.
Partners in Chicago
We’re grateful to the organizations supporting the Chicago series and helping bring people together for debate and conversation.
If your organization values thoughtful public discussion, we’d welcome a conversation about introducing the event to your community or supporting the Chicago series.
Discuss a Chicago partnershipGood to know
No prior study is required. If you’re interested in the questions and willing to consider different perspectives, you’re welcome. You can take part in audience scoring and questions without previous debate experience. Scoring considers persuasion, evidence, clarity and refutation.
Benjamin Callard of the University of Chicago, Seyed N. Mousavian of Loyola University Chicago, Sydney Harvey of Illinois Tech, Anthony Laden of the University of Illinois Chicago, Sanford Goldberg of Northwestern University and David Gunkel of Northern Illinois University. The exact resolutions will be announced on this page once the program is final.
Yes. Pizza, sandwiches, donuts, beer and wine are included with every ticket.
Chicago-Kent College of Law students and faculty attend free.
Yes. Eligible bookings of 5–30 tickets receive the group price shown in the ticket section. For a larger booking, contact john@superdebate.org.
Every ticket includes the featured debate, audience questions and scoring, the reception, and pizza, sandwiches, donuts, beer and wine. Event hours: 5:30 PM CST – 9:30 PM CST.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661. Getting there: One block west of Union Station and three blocks south of the Ogilvie Transportation Center. For questions about visiting the venue or access requirements, please contact john@superdebate.org before booking.
Keep going
Structured debates on the ideas that matter most. Watch the arguments, then score who makes the stronger case.
Thursday, November 19, 2026
We hope you’ll join us to spend time with people who enjoy thinking carefully, hearing a different perspective, and following a conversation beyond its first answer. Bring someone you’d like to share the experience with, or come and meet the community.
Get tickets · from $30
