#124 The Lazy Dogmatism of Sam Harris - Joe Heschmeyer

In this book, Sam Harris challenges the traditional separation between scientific facts and human values. He argues that morality can be understood in terms of human and animal well-being, and that science can provide objective answers to moral questions. Harris contends that moral relativism is false and that science can tell us how we ought to live to achieve the greatest well-being. He uses his expertise in philosophy and neuroscience to make a case for a science of morality, emphasizing that moral values should be grounded in empirical facts about what causes people to flourish.

Karl Popper's "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" is a highly influential work in the philosophy of science. It critiques the traditional view of scientific method as inductive, arguing instead that scientific knowledge is developed through a process of conjecture and refutation. Popper introduces the concept of falsifiability, suggesting that a scientific theory must be testable and potentially falsifiable to be considered scientific. The book has had a profound impact on the philosophy of science, influencing the way scientists approach the development and testing of theories. It remains a cornerstone of modern epistemology.

In this book, Sam Harris delivers a critical analysis of the clash between reason and religious faith in the modern world. He argues that religious beliefs, even moderate ones, can lead to dangerous consequences, such as terrorism, and that these beliefs are not grounded in empirical evidence. Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to propose a secular and humanistic foundation for ethics and spirituality. The book is a call to action against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics and advocates for a rational approach to ethics based on human happiness and suffering.