Can Science Tell Us What is Morally Right and Wrong?
This article is a response to Julian Walker’s recent blog, The Contortionist: Science, Morality, and Extreme Relativism Julian Walker recently argued that “moral questions have to do with human well-being, and human well-being is something that we can look at through the lens of science.” I agree with his assertion that the scientific method can help us explore answers to moral and ethical questions, but I would argue science cannot lead us to a set... Read More
The Contortionist: Science, Morality and Extreme Relativism
A debate has raged since the publication of Sam Harris’ book, The Moral Landscape, as to whether or not moral questions can be approached using the scientific method. Even among Harris’ readers there has been a lot of skepticism, and the academic philosophy community has widely criticized his contention that science has a role to play in evaluating moral claims. The issues here are deep and broad, but I want to hone in on a few that came up in our lively and passionate YogaBrains... Read More
Spirituality, Science & Psychology: The Problem of Evil
It is undeniable: we live in a world in which man’s inhumanity to man is self-evident. Evil really does exist, in the sense that there are ongoing atrocities being committed every day. How we think about this fact is central to our spiritual worldview. The problem of the existence of evil has always presented a challenge to religious metaphysics, and I would argue it delivers the necessary and fatal crack in the edifice of religious belief that allows us to break through... Read More
The Inadequacy of Faith: Real World Politics and Transcendental Philosophy
This article is in response to the recent criticisms of yoga and activism organization Off the Mat, Into the World for its attempts at a non-partisan political campaign embodied by YogaVotes, an offshoot aimed at getting more yogis registered to vote—but especially by the members’ presence offering yoga and massage at both the RNC and DNC last month. Full disclosure: I am friends and colleagues with most of the major players and have no bone to pick. But I do think... Read More
The Jewel of Reality: Spirituality 2.0
There comes a point at which living in reality is the spiritual prerogative. Actually, this has been the gradual process of human progress in general. The “Enlightenment” era or Age of Reason in the 18th century was a radical shift away from monarchy, religious tyranny, and their roots in irrational superstition. No, God did not decree that your rich royal family should rule over the peasants in perpetuity. No, you do not get to legislate from the pulpit and rule your country... Read More
Can Science Be Spiritual?
Until my first year of college, I had never given much thought to the relationship between science and spirituality. I, like many of you I would guess, had accepted the paradigm I had been given by my foremothers and forefathers without much skepticism—science and spirituality existed on opposite ends of a continuum, and if there was any relationship between them it was one of discord and disagreement. Science, I had been told, was devoted to logic and empiricism; while spirituality... Read More
