The Moral Landscape

How Science Can Determine Human Values

By: Sam Harris

Narrated by: Sam Harris

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Sam Harris’s first book, The End of Faith, ignited a worldwide debate about the validity of religion. In the aftermath, Harris discovered that most people—from religious fundamentalists to nonbelieving scientists—agree on one point: science has nothing to say on the subject of human values. Indeed, our failure to address questions of meaning and morality through science has now become the most common justification for religious faith. It is also the primary reason why so many secularists and religious moderates feel obligated to "respect" the hardened superstitions of their more devout neighbors.

In this explosive new book, 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.

Bringing a fresh perspective to age-old questions of right and wrong and good and evil, Harris demonstrates that we already know enough about the human brain and its relationship to events in the world to say that there are right and wrong answers to the most pressing questions of human life. Because such answers exist, moral relativism is simply false—and comes at increasing cost to humanity. And the intrusions of religion into the sphere of human values can be finally repelled: for just as there is no such thing as Christian physics or Muslim algebra, there can be no Christian or Muslim morality.

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

Critic reviews

“Sam Harris breathes intellectual fire into an ancient debate. Reading this thrilling, audacious book, you feel the ground shifting beneath your feet. Reason has never had a more passionate advocate.” (Ian McEwan)

“A lively, provocative, and timely new look at one of the deepest problems in the world of ideas. Harris makes a powerful case for a morality that is based on human flourishing and thoroughly enmeshed with science and rationality. It is a tremendously appealing vision, and one that no thinking person can afford to ignore.” (Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and The Blank Slate)

Shockingly Excellent

Would you consider the audio edition of The Moral Landscape to be better than the print version?

Not necessarily. You need to stop and think a lot, go slow sometimes, sometimes flip back and review, look at the topic headings sometimes - all harder to do in audio than print

What did you like best about this story?

So clear, so well thought out, well supported with research and pertinent anecdotal material

What aspect of Sam Harris’s performance would you have changed?

Too much like a read speech, monotone, with little humor and less emotion, both of which would have helped - would help any non-fiction narrative. Might have been better with a professional reader - although I did like feeling the presence of the author

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The assertion that most scientists since Gould have given up the idea that morality could be a legitimate area for science

Any additional comments?

I am absolutely delighted with this book. I had no expectation it would affect me so profoundly, how much I would treasure the clarity and depth of the thinking. I find myself clapping my hands, and shouting YES! unexpectedly as I listen. I could not be more happy with this acquisition. Makes me want to hear more from Sam Harris.

A must read for everyone

Sam Harris makes a strong case for ending the appearant collective blindness regarding morality and cultural practices (such as female genital mutilation).
One can only hope that anthropologists and others in the social studies read this book.
My only concern is that the book shows a lot of examples of what should constitute moral valleys and not enough examples of moral peaks and how to progress from the first to the second.
Nevertheless this would need a lot more research and should be a separate book.
10/10

thoroughly enlightening

a well proportioned, thought out and thoroughly defended thesis and viewpoint. thanks to the author.

Brilliant

This book is enlightening and dare I say extremely important to our outlook on morality.

Refreshing. A break from mainstream fantasy.

A fantastic and relevant look at morality and the reason and true meaning of the word. Real and honest, no bullshit.

Incredible, very moving and fun

Sam is such a fantastic writer and narrator. I love his books about free will and lying, but this is now without question one of my top 5 books of all time. As a far leftist, I have so much respect for Sam, because he is absolutely one of the greatest allies we have on the left, and this book perfectly illustrates how "hard-headed" and objective progressivism can be.

Loved it!

If you could sum up The Moral Landscape in three words, what would they be?

Sam Harris rocks!

What other book might you compare The Moral Landscape to and why?

Letter to a christian nation by Sam Harris. Primarily because it's by Sam Harris

An IMPORTANT book!

There is alot to digest in this book, so I will listen to it again. :-)

Sam Harris is as eloquent and illuminating as ever

With a profound sense of clarity, Sam yet again presents an idea of extreme importance for society. He is a refuge of sanity in an otherwise relatively insane world.

Insightful af

hella woke, hopefully people will adopt this reasoning on a large scale soon. literally the best book ever