The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris

[Nicole928]

The Moral Landscape

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values is a book by Sam Harris. In it, he promotes a science of morality and argues that many thinkers have long confused the relationship between morality, facts, and science. He aims to carve a third path between secularists who say morality is subjective (e.g. moral relativists), and religionists who say that morality is given by God and scripture. Harris contends that the only moral framework worth talking about is one where "morally good" things pertain to increases in the "well-being of conscious creatures". He then argues that, problems with philosophy of science and reason in general notwithstanding, 'moral questions' will have objectively right and wrong answers which are grounded in empirical facts about what causes people to flourish.

Challenging the age-old philosophical notion that we can never get an 'ought' from an 'is', Harris argues that moral questions are best pursued using, not just philosophy, but the methods of science. Thus, "science can determine human values" translates to "science can tell us which values lead to human flourishing". It is in this sense that Harris advocates that scientists begin conversations about a normative science of "morality".[1]

[Fran]

This is a book and reading forum and we are interested in the opinions of the posters themselves so why not post your own opinion (assuming you've read the book) rather that doing a copy & paste from Wikipedia
... but as least you did credit your source.

[Nicole928]

This is a book and reading forum and we are interested in the opinions of the posters themselves so why not post your own opinion (assuming you've read the book) rather that doing a copy & paste from Wikipedia
... but as least you did credit your source.

Hi Fran,

I didn't see any restrictions for posting here other than self-promotions. I didn't write this book...just wondering if anyone might be interested in reading along and/or sharing their thoughts.

Nicole

[Fran]

This is a book and reading forum and we are interested in the opinions of the posters themselves so why not post your own opinion (assuming you've read the book) rather that doing a copy & paste from Wikipedia
... but as least you did credit your source.

Hi Fran,

I didn't see any restrictions for posting here other than self-promotions. I didn't write this book...just wondering if anyone might be interested in reading along and/or sharing their thoughts.

Nicole

I didn't suggest that you did write it ... I just don't see the point in copying someone else's review. If I want to read Wikipedia I can Google it myself, what I like to read here is the personal, honest opinion of a fellow forum member.

[annie]

Have you started it yet, Nicole? I just finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, another book about ethics in science/medicine. (a great book, by the way - I wonder if it has been discussed on this forum?) I'm not sure if I'm ready for another right now; I have a pile of fiction ready to go, but will keep this in mind. I'll probably look to see if my library has it. Thanks.