Author Sam Harris joins us to discuss his new book, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values." The book explores the perils of moral relativism and the relationship between knowledge and values.
Download the podcast here. This is what Salon had to say about the book:
His long-awaited new book, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values," deals head-on with issues that many atheistic thinkers have been skirting for years. If religion is so bad, where should humans look for a moral authority? The answer, for Harris, is science. Harris defines morality as anything related to the "well-being of conscious creatures." Since many scientific findings have implications for how to maximize well-being, Harris believes scientists should be authorities on moral issues. As Harris sees it, scientists not only have every right to make moral arguments, but should be authorities of the moral realm.
There's a full interview that's transcribed, here. See also:
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
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The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
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Letter to a Christian Nation: Counter Point
,
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
