The Science of Morality by Shaddy Zeineddine

Can science answer moral questions? Sam Harris claims it can Sean Carrol, among others, argues it cannot

What is Science? Sean Carrol: If you have a dispute that cannot in principle be decided by recourse to observable facts about the world, your dispute is not one of science. Harris agrees with Carrol's definition

Facts & Values Sam Harris: Values are facts about the wellbeing of conscious beings. Morality is acheived by maximizing the wellbeing of conscious beings

Human Wellbeing Determined based on brain states Definition of wellbeing is open to revision like definition of healthy There may be many ways to acheive wellbeing

Differences of Opinion Moral experts exist and their opinions matter more Some peoples' opinions are excluded We cannot tolerate differences in wellbeing

Counterarguments Carrol states that people want different things Harris relies on consensus on wellbeing desire for wellbeing is consequentialist Harris claims that any other ethical theory is wrong

My Opinion I disagree with Harris' statements Harris' argument is based on invalid assumptions people have vastly different desires values change, facts do not morality is not always measured by consequences he is motivated by his personal values however, science does have a place in ethics