Unbelievable? Is religion good or bad for society? Ben Shapiro v Alex O'Connor The Big Conversation – Episode 7 | Season 5
Dec 1, 2023
Ben Shapiro, a prominent conservative commentator and author, debates with Alex O'Connor, a philosophy graduate and YouTuber known for his thoughtful discussions. They delve into whether religion is beneficial or detrimental to society, exploring free will and morality's foundations. Shapiro argues for religion's societal role, while O'Connor questions its necessity. Their exchange tackles the nature of self, the implications of nihilism, and the historical influence of religious beliefs on ethics and community structures, leaving listeners with profound questions to ponder.
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Moral Concepts Need Extra-Natural Grounding
- Ben argues that free will, moral truth and reason cannot be grounded in a purely materialist Darwinian framework.
- He calls the belief that atheists can coherently use those concepts without an extra-natural foundation 'the atheist delusion.'
Free Will As An Unintelligible Illusion
- Alex accepts the logical argument that if there's no God then libertarian free will fails, and he uses the law of excluded middle to show determinism or randomness exhaust options.
- He concludes that free will is unintelligible and likely an evolved illusion, even if we act as if it exists.
Belief In Free Will Boosts Social Functioning
- Ben stresses that belief in free will produces practical benefits: people who think they control actions change behavior for the better.
- He cites social science showing deterministic beliefs correlate with worse outcomes and social functioning.
