Sam Harris -- The Moral Landscape (UCSD) 2 of 4

[rpcrazy]

his arguments are easily refutable...that's the sad thing. But yeah...void of pain is easily just as bad as all the pain. He obviously knows this, but maybe just doesn't get it

[svafarhelgason]

I can think of one possible state of the universe that would be worse than the most suffering by everyone. No suffering by anyone.

[InnerSmile72]

"I just happen to think that most of what has been said in philosophy is not especially useful" Oooooh burrrrn

Bertrand Russell: those questions which are already capable of definite answers are placed in the sciences, while those only to which, at present, no definite answer can be given, remain to form the residue which is called philosophy. (The Problems of Philosophy, Ch. XV)

[TheAmericanApologist]

Thanks for sharing!

I think Harris is right. On matters of ethics, almost all parties have agreed that facts and reason are not allowed a place at the table. This is not just embarrassing, but it's also deleterious. I support fact-based ethics, and I'd go further in saying that anyone arguing against the idea strikes me as morally suspect. If we're to live together peacefully, we need something better than whim based ethics to guide us. A person can span the divide between is and ought!