Sam Harris Discusses The Moral Landscape

By: Sam Harris

Length: 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Sam Harris discusses his latest book, The Moral Landscape.

About The Moral Landscape:
Sam Harris tears down the wall between scientific facts and human values, arguing that most people are simply mistaken about the relationship between morality and the rest of human knowledge. Harris urges us to think about morality in terms of human and animal well-being, viewing the experiences of conscious creatures as peaks and valleys on a "moral landscape". Because there are definite facts to be known about where we fall on this landscape, Harris foresees a time when science will no longer limit itself to merely describing what people do in the name of "morality"; in principle, science should be able to tell us what we ought to do to live the best lives possible.

Listen to the The Moral Landscape.

©2010 Sam Harris (P)2010 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

fantastic addendum to a great great

sam harris is one of the most articulate and clear thinkers of our time. great book.

Always an admirer of Sam.

Sam Harris gives logical reason as to why religious dogma is dangerous for the humanity's well being. He does it not just because he wants to, but it is what is necessary.

Morality in terms of human and animal well being.

Sam Harris is a very intelligent man and a serious scientist. I agree that belief in god(s) is totally unnecessary to developing an appropriate moral system and that, indeed, some/most religions are indeed immoral when taken to dogmatic excess. I disagree with his militant atheism which he basically turns into his religion. I make that statement not only based on The Moral Landscape but on the sum of all of his writings and lectures on the topic of morality and religion.

The cases that Harris makes against Christianity's excesses in Letters to a Christian Nation and Islam's excesses in Islam and the Future of Tolerance are valid. But in his The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason Harris fails to make the case against the excesses of militant atheism which is also a religion, his religion. During the French Revolution militant atheists lopped off the heads of thousands of their fellow citizens. Communists, militant atheists, have killed millions in the USSR, China, Cambodia, and elsewhere.

We cannot know that which is unknowable. That is true about the existence of god(s) whether it is a theist who claims that higher power definitely exists or about militant atheists like Sam Harris who claim to know that such a higher power does exist.

Nevertheless, I find atheists like Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens well worth listening to and reading.

Excellent presentation by the author.

Excellent examples of what is you come on the book. Quite understandable and is a good preview ood what is to come. Almost a book in itself.

Sam Harris is amazing

will buy this book. great thinker, makes complete sense in his arguments. highly recommended book

meow

I'm going to listen to the book now. I think this discussion proved to me that the book will provide a solid foundation for the argument that morality can be what we make it and we had the tools to do so already.


authors should do this more. the audio samples just do not cut it.

Harris for president

Sam Harris is the most articulate and convincing truth teller. His books deserve to be studied, not just read.

Love Sam Harris

his logic and reason are a refreshingly honest view towards the evolving human culture we witness via the media

Insightful talk for the journey

for those who like question their beliefs, motives and actions. the talk is insightful as it tackles certain topics with unbiased logic. the journey to open mindedness may be tough for some but this should definitely be insightful.

Excellent

A book like this is necessary to make the future a better one. Harris is brave and brilliant. His presentation here is a perfect description of the contents and intent. Get the book.