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Science and the Good
The Tragic Quest for the Foundations of Morality
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Science and the Good
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Description
Why efforts to create a scientific basis of morality are neither scientific nor moral
In this illuminating book, James Davison Hunter and Paul Nedelisky trace the origins and development of the centuries-long, passionate, but ultimately failed quest to discover a scientific foundation for morality.
The “new moral science” led by such figures as E. O. Wilson, Patricia Churchland, Sam Harris, Jonathan Haidt, and Joshua Greene is only the newest manifestation of that quest. Though claims for its accomplishments are often wildly exaggerated, this new iteration has been no more successful than its predecessors.
But rather than giving up in the face of this failure, the new moral science has taken a surprising turn. Whereas earlier efforts sought to demonstrate what is right and wrong, the new moral scientists have concluded, ironically, that right and wrong don’t actually exist. Their (perhaps unwitting) moral nihilism turns the science of morality into a social engineering project.
If there is nothing moral for science to discover, the science of morality becomes, at best, a feeble program to achieve arbitrary societal goals.
Concise and rigorously argued, Science and the Good is a definitive critique of a would-be science that has gained extraordinary influence in public discourse today and an exposé of that project’s darker turn.
Series: Foundational Questions in Science
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Science and the Good
Why efforts to create a scientific basis of morality are neither scientific nor moral In this illuminating book, James Davison Hunter and Paul Nedelisky trace the origins and development of the centuries-long, passionate, but ultimately failed quest to discover a scientific foundation for morality. The “new moral science” led by such figures as E. O. Wilson, Patricia Churchland, Sam Harris,...Paperback$4099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Why We Believe
A wide-ranging argument by a renowned anthropologist that the capacity to believe is what makes us human. Why are so many humans religious? Why do we daydream, imagine, and hope? Philosophers, theologians, social scientists, and historians have offered explanations for centuries, but their accounts often ignore or even avoid human evolution. Evolutionary scientists respond with proposals for why ritual, religion,...Hardback$5399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The book offers a well-argued and accessible challenge to the notion that scientific study can fully explain or replace morality. It provides a critical examination of contemporary ideas in Anglophone discourse, questioning the capability of science to define moral truths and ways of living. The authors highlight the inadequacies and possible risks of relying solely on a scientific approach to morality, making it a timely contribution to cultural debates.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300251821
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 12 May 2020
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 312
About the Author
James Davison Hunter is LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture, and Social Theory at the University of Virginia. Paul Nedelisky is a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia.
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