Challenging "the Moral Landscape" ?

[LazyGun]

Anyone here tempted to take Sam Harris up on his challenge?

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-moral-landscape-challenge1

[pixie373]

Looks interesting. Are you going to, lg?

[jim360]

It would be easier to challenge his book if I'd read it first, so no, not yet. And probably not even after that! Still, I'm vaguely interested in the idea of a "scientific understanding of morality" as you might have seen in an earlier thread I posted about the Maths of Morality. So while I can't really answer your question yet I'm going to look for his book now :).

[Octavius]

"I'm going to look for his book now ...."

All part of his plan?!

[pixie373]

There is quite a time until anything can be submitted, Jim, so I'm sure you could if you wanted to.

[jim360]

Haha! Possibly.

[chrisgel]

Good luck with that.

[jim360]

True, pixie, although on the face of it I'm inclined to agree with the central tenet of his book. Although perhaps in a different way, given that he says: "... there must be right and wrong answers to questions of morality and values that potentially fall within the purview of science." In my earlier question I was interested in how morality might have naturally emerged, and I can't quite decide if that's the same at what Sam Harris is saying or not.

Something to think about, but I highly doubt that I'll reach any thoughts that are profound enough to try and win this challenge.

[jim360]

That "ha-ha" by the way was meant as a response to Octavius.

[LazyGun]

@ Not me, Pixie, since I broadly agree with the central points that Sam Harris makes in his book :)

@Jim If you have not read it, I think you would probably find it a most interesting read.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Yes.

[Octavius]

Actually Jim, a simple googling reveals a free pdf version online ....

[LazyGun]

@v_e Would you consider letting us here at AB know how you get on with your challenge then, v_e? Sight of your draft essay perhaps?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Certainly, LG.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I declare myself, by the way, a great fan of Harris, but I don't think he's succeeded where all the ethical philosophers in history have failed.

[LazyGun]

@ Trigger - LoL. I suspect you would trounce him. :)

[LazyGun]

I agree, v_e, and if you are able to craft a response would be interested in reading it.

[vetuste_ennemi]

The task would far better be left to a first year philosophy student than this tired old hack with only a lay interest amd knowledge of the subject, LG. All I'll be doing is hunting down the objections to similar (essentially utilitarian) moral theories. But it will keep me off the streets, won't it?

[woofgang]

CBA

[naomi24]

Sam Harris is always worth reading.