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)

Mind-blowing

Although very tough on Catholics, I find the book makes compelling arguments and begins great conversations.

Very Intellectual and Thought Provoking

Some of the concepts aren't necessarily new, but Sam Harris is able to beautifully articulate how morality can be studied by science. I especially appreciate the recognition that there are many gray areas in discussions of morality, unlike the rigid and sometimes harmful morality that is derived from various religious texts. At times, the book does seem to be treating religious texts as a pinata, but mostly it's required to demonstrate the validity of arguments being made.
If you are willing to listen to philosophical thinking on morality with an open mind, you will love this audiobook. But, if you want to set your thoughts in concrete because you're terrified of change, then you probably should skip this book.

Great

Good job trying to explain how atheism rather than being non belief can also be a belief system with its own set of morals based in the realities of the real world rather than the supernatural.

Complicated stuff...

Interesting and enlightening, if not fun. Feeling a little depressed but that's just me. Maybe.
One comment. It's ET cetera.

excellent work

A thorough defense of moral realism. I'm impressed with the marriage of philosophical exposition and hard science.

Excellent examination of morality, consciousness

& science. I've never read any book before that breaks down the basics of what humans have been questioning for centuries

Worth the time, even if you know his stance.

Sam is a beautifully succinct orator, and I always enjoy listening to him unpack his arguments.

What I was not expecting was finding myself laughing every few minutes. I suppose, you may not see that humor though if your only interest is critiquing his arguments.

Morality exists beyond religion

Excellent! Read at a pace slow enough to allow time to digest the complex concepts. Completely engaging. Thorough discussion of morality as it relates to the well being of humanity. An open discussion of the duplicity if religion.

Civilization's journey to moral sanity starts here

How many times have human beings said "we can never know X"? Given the obscene degree of religious moral conditioning and influences on thought in general, it will be a long, hard journey, but possibly the most important and profound one our species has ever taken. Harris eloquently asks the questions, and makes the case. The only suggestion that I would offer is that the author took more care with the social utility of greater good arguments because they not only lack an ethical foundation but have been responsible for some of the greatest atrocities in our history.

Bold and Honest View

Would you listen to The Moral Landscape again? Why?

Absolutely worth a second listen! The author gives so many examples for many of his points (some in disarming list form) that a second listen would help to deepen the listeners understanding of the author's arguments.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Moral Landscape?

There are some graphic descriptions of crimes committed against innocent victims that startle the listener into forming an opinion.

If you could give The Moral Landscape a new subtitle, what would it be?

The Cause for Atheism