The Science of Morality

Birth of A New Discipline(?): “The Science of Morality” Tim Zebo http://www.slideshare.net/jerseyguy http://www.facebook.com/tim.zebo tzebo@usa.net Image: http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Alessandro_Botticelli/birth.jpeg / UUCMC Dialog January 16, 2011

“ The Moral Landscape” (293 pages) tjz- References (~880; 14%) Notes (364;15%)

Judgments of Facts & Values tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Brain States of Conscious Creatures tjz- ? ?

Morality <=> Well-Being (Brain States) tjz-

Premise: Flourishing depends on measurable facts tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Outcomes for Human Flourishing: “The Moral Landscape”

Outcomes for Human Flourishing: “The Moral Landscape” tjz- Good Lives Bad Lives Premise: Some have better lives than others Terrific Lives Horrible Lives

Outcomes for Human Flourishing: “The Moral Landscape” tjz- Good Lives Bad Lives ,[object Object],[object Object],Possible Dialog Topics Terrific Lives Horrible Lives

Why should we care? The Moral Landscape: “Introduction” tjz- ,[object Object],Possible Dialog Topic “ Science & religion are in conflict because evidence & reasoning trump “faith” when it comes to understanding reality.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7h08RDYA5E U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) – “Every member and every subcommittee will be on the frontlines as we take on federal agencies to target areas to immediately cut spending." Subcommittee on Environment and Economy Chair - John Shimkus (R-IL) Vice Chair - Tim Murphy (R-PA)

Chapter 1: “Moral Truth” tjz- ,[object Object],Possible Dialog Topic http://tbknews.blogspot.com/2007/10/violent-oppression-of-women-in-islam.html ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Chapter Text

Chapter 2: “Good & Evil” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Chapter Text tjz- Would we lose anything if we spoke of “well-being” instead of “right”, “good”, “moral”, “evil”, etc ? Possible Dialog Topic http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~baron/journal/7303a/jdm7303a.htm

Chapter 3: “Belief” tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtYQ0a7btQ ,[object Object],Possible Dialog Topic

Chapter 4: “Religion” “Cannot be the source for moral truth” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],tjz- http://www.project-reason.org/gallery3/image/105/ Contradictions in the Bible World Sciences World Religions

Chapter 5: “The Future of Happiness” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Chapter Text tjz- ,[object Object],Possible Dialog Topic

Comments by Steven Pinker Harvard Philosopher; Author, “How the Mind Works” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Agrees ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Reservations tjz- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbplK-J5IA

Comments by Lawrence Krauss Physicist, The Origins Project, Author, “Quantum Man: Richard Feynman’s Life in Science” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Agrees that: tjz- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcL8oFgSESE

Comments by Simon Blackburn Bertrand Russel Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge, Author, “How to Read Hume” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Agrees ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Reservations tjz- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8vYq6Xm2To

Possible Dialog Topics: Recap tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Dialog Topic: Dimensions of Human Flourishing & UU’s 7 Principles tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],? ? ? ? ?

Dialog Topic: Human Flourishing & Declaration of Human Rights tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],? ? ?

Dialog Topic: Human Flourishing & The Ten Commandments tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],? ? ? ? ? ? ?

The Moral Landscape: “Introduction” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Chapter Text tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Chapter Notes Possible Dialog Topics

Chapter 1: “Moral Truth” tjz- ,[object Object],Chapter 1 Notes

Chapter 4: “Religion” tjz- ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Chapter 4 Notes

Outcomes for Human Flourishing: “The Moral Landscape” tjz-

The Science of Morality

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