Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
“The question is not how can you be moral if you don’t believe in God, but how can you be moral if you believe in God.” (Phil Zuckerman, below). The most common criticism religionists make of atheists is embodied in the first part of the quote above, a quote from Phil Zuckerman in a speech he … Continue reading Phil Zuckerman on the advantages of secular morality
What does it mean to say that there’s an “objective morality”? The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy reports this view as “moral realism” and characterizes it like this: Moral realists are those who think that, in these respects, things should be taken at face value—moral claims do purport to report facts and are true if they … Continue reading The absence of objective morality
The weekly New York Times lucubrations of Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren are anodyne and sometimes off-putting, yet I cannot resist reading them—for the same reason that you smell the milk when you know it’s gone bad. This week, Warren interviews Rachael Denhollander, the first gymnast to publicly accuse team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual … Continue reading Tish Harrison Warren on why the best morality rests on the words and deeds of Jesus
Today’s Jesus and Mo strip, “nostalgia”, shows an unusual degree of self-reflection by Jesus, while Mo has a moment’s pause. The note that came with the email of the strip, which explains it should you be puzzled, says this: Not all prophets are equal.
Over at the Guardian, Kenan Malik writes with his usual good sense about judging historical figures by today’s morality—something we just read about this morning vis-à-vis Darwin and other evolutionists.. Malik’s particular subjects are Napoleon and Churchill, both in the process of being found “problematic”. Unlike many of the “decolonizers”, Malik is willing to tolerate … Continue reading Kenan Malik on judging yesterday’s figures by today’s morality
You all know Steve Pinker, and surely nearly all of you have heard of Helen Pluckrose, who not only participated in the “Grievance Studies Affair“, but coauthored with James Lindsay the book Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity and has now founded the humanist but anti-woke organization Counterweight. Here … Continue reading Steve Pinker talks with Helen Pluckrose for Counterweight
Why would two members of the ID creationist Discovery Institute keep attacking me for rejecting libertarian free will? After all, that issue has very little to do with evolution. But they keep on trying to land blows, for the real object of the Discovery Institute goes way beyond the promotion of ID creationism in schools. … Continue reading Attack of the Lilliputians: Casey Luskin and Michael Egnor put misleading words and sentiments about free will in my mouth
Peter Singer, my favorite ethical philosopher and somewhat of a role model, has published a provocative article at Project Syndicate that has made me rethink the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. While I absolutely supported Roe v. Wade, and in fact would extend the two-trimester guidelines for legal abortion, I didn’t really see the … Continue reading Peter Singer’s contrarian view on the Dobbs decision
Several readers sent me a link to a new Guardian piece on free will by journalist Oliver Burkeman (some added that I’m quoted a couple of times, which is true). It’s a “long read” for those with a short attention span, but I have to say that it’s a very good piece, covering all the … Continue reading A Guardian “long read” on free will
The new Jesus and Mo strip, calledalled “strict”, came with this email note: “Only wives, and slaves that you actually own, apparently.” Ten to one this is going to get a big ban in Pakistan. But it shows that scriptural “morality” isn’t to be taken seriously these days, and that proves, in turn, that morality … Continue reading Jesus ‘n’ Mo ‘n’ abuse
