Sam Harris’ The Moral Landscape: Everyone should read this

I just finished the Sam Harris’ “The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values”. The book was excellent. Sam Harris’ first book, “The End of Faith”, was one of the books that made me determine that I was an atheist, not an agnostic. Mr. Harris is clear, concise, and most importantly to me, unapologetic.

What is so appealing to me about Mr. Harris’ treatment of these weighty matters is his approach. He does not approach them as opinions of equal value, as most writers do. Much of the reading that I have done as pertains to matters of religion take a conciliatory tone that so waters down the argument as to make it incomprehensible and useless. Mr. Harris’ approach is that of a peer review. He takes each argument presented, weighs it, and casts judgment upon it. He is no kinder to the religious than he would be to a peer who had used bad methodology in a study.

The Moral Landscape is not intended to be a book specifically disagreeing with religious tenants. It cannot avoid doing so, however, because it addresses one of the last bastions of religious unassailableness: morals. We have all, throughout our lives, been treated to the old canard that morals are explicitly and solely the grounds of the theologian. Some enlightened folks would go so far as to grant the applicability of philosophy to morals, but it is a realm that even most scientists will avoid, having been raised to believe that moral values are too “human” to be questioned or answered by the process of science.

Mr. Harris eviscerates that theory. He takes every approach that I have ever heard to making that argument, blows away the supports, and washes out the conclusion with a clear, refreshing stream of logic and knowledge.

I won’t go into much detail, I’ve only read the book once and I have not thought enough about the arguments to make them as my own. You (and I use this “you” in the most personal sense for every person that reads this blog post) need to read the boo yourself. Many, perhaps most, will disagree with much that Mr. Harris has to say. But if you care about the value of human discourse in improving our lives, in hearing new ideas and judging them, this book is an essential read. The ideas here-in are NEW. You’ll find no canned old argument, based on some thousand year old premise here.

Our guiding morals and the way that we reach them, in groups, countries, or as humans, have a definitive and constant impact on our daily lives. These are important, and IMMEDIATELY so. Mr. Harris shows us how we can get away from debilitating circular discussions of relative morals and find a moral structure that fits all of us, all of humanity, and carries us forward into ever improving lives. He shows us how we can make moral choices and be able to EVALUATE them for their efficacy in improving the world around us. He argues convincingly that there are moral facts in this world and that science, not religion or guessing or ancient superstition, is the best process to discover the best way to live our lives.

So. I recommend you read it. Who wants to borrow it first?