Making Sense with Sam Harris cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris

#364 — Facts & Values

Apr 23, 2024
Dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the nature of moral truth and how it intertwines with human consciousness. The conversation highlights the importance of well-being as a foundation for morality. Explore the balance between personal happiness and global ethical responsibilities, particularly through the lens of gift-giving. Discover how scientific inquiry can bridge ethical imperatives with practical insights, advocating for a universal moral framework centered around human welfare.
28:25

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Science values epistemic objectivity but also relies on certain values like coherence and predictive power.
  • Understanding and maximizing human well-being requires converging on global goals and moral persuasion efforts.

Deep dives

Objective Basis of Morality Beyond Science

Morality, according to the podcast, rests on the reality of consciousness and the experiences of conscious beings, making it subjective in the ontological sense but not less real. While science is committed to epistemic objectivity in analyzing evidence without bias, it doesn't limit itself to studying only physical objects. The distinction between epistemological and ontological objectivity was discussed, emphasizing that science relies on certain epistemic values like coherence and predictive power, despite not being committed to ontological objectivity.

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