Sam Harris

Can we build a moral compass using only the tools of neuroscience and the data of human suffering? He challenges the ancient assumption that "goodness" requires a supernatural stamp of approval, arguing that well-being is a matter of observable facts. "We are all in a state of cognitive dissonance if we claim to believe in iron-age myths while flying in airplanes," he suggests. He explores the mechanics of consciousness with the detachment of a surgeon, seeking a "spirituality" that is compatible with the laboratory. For him, the end of faith is the beginning of a truly rational empathy. He is the strategist of a secular ethics, mapping the terrain of the mind to find a path toward peace without prayers.