after years of pestering and annoying my family friends really anybody I could
family friends really anybody I could
family friends really anybody I could corner into having a philosophical
corner into having a philosophical
corner into having a philosophical debate with me I finally have a captive
debate with me I finally have a captive
debate with me I finally have a captive audience so it should be great
audience so it should be great
audience so it should be great as the title suggests we’re gonna be
as the title suggests we’re gonna be
as the title suggests we’re gonna be talking about science we’re gonna be
talking about science we’re gonna be
talking about science we’re gonna be talking about morality more specifically
talking about morality more specifically
talking about morality more specifically we’re gonna be talking about the link
we’re gonna be talking about the link
we’re gonna be talking about the link between the two could it be possible
between the two could it be possible
between the two could it be possible that science has something to say about
that science has something to say about
that science has something to say about what we should believe in and how we
what we should believe in and how we
what we should believe in and how we should have in our daily lives hopefully
should have in our daily lives hopefully
should have in our daily lives hopefully about the end of this talk you’ll be
about the end of this talk you’ll be
about the end of this talk you’ll be convinced that there is but as it is
convinced that there is but as it is
convinced that there is but as it is said in the title of this event tonight
said in the title of this event tonight
said in the title of this event tonight that the theme is reflections and so I
that the theme is reflections and so I
that the theme is reflections and so I will be talking a little bit about
will be talking a little bit about
will be talking a little bit about myself although unfortunately compared
myself although unfortunately compared
myself although unfortunately compared to the source material or the material
to the source material or the material
to the source material or the material we’re gonna be covering in the rest of
we’re gonna be covering in the rest of
we’re gonna be covering in the rest of this talk it’s exceedingly boring my
this talk it’s exceedingly boring my
this talk it’s exceedingly boring my life but we’ll get through it as quickly
life but we’ll get through it as quickly
life but we’ll get through it as quickly as we can when I was young I was
as we can when I was young I was
as we can when I was young I was obsessed with science I was obsessed
obsessed with science I was obsessed
obsessed with science I was obsessed with science and I still am I would play
with science and I still am I would play
with science and I still am I would play with my toy dinosaurs and I would know
with my toy dinosaurs and I would know
with my toy dinosaurs and I would know everything about them where they lived
everything about them where they lived
everything about them where they lived when they died why they died and where
when they died why they died and where
when they died why they died and where where they went how they acted how they
where they went how they acted how they
where they went how they acted how they behaved what their names were I knew
behaved what their names were I knew
behaved what their names were I knew everything and I carry that that the
everything and I carry that that the
everything and I carry that that the thirst for knowledge with me today and I
thirst for knowledge with me today and I
thirst for knowledge with me today and I carried it through my entire life so far
carried it through my entire life so far
carried it through my entire life so far I wanted to know everything and as I
I wanted to know everything and as I
I wanted to know everything and as I started to get into high school and then
started to get into high school and then
started to get into high school and then higher levels of education I started to
higher levels of education I started to
higher levels of education I started to learn incredible things like me you the
learn incredible things like me you the
learn incredible things like me you the chair you’re sitting in the car you
chair you’re sitting in the car you
chair you’re sitting in the car you drove here the planet you live on
drove here the planet you live on
drove here the planet you live on they’re all made of exactly the same
they’re all made of exactly the same
they’re all made of exactly the same stuff which is incredible to me they’re
stuff which is incredible to me they’re
stuff which is incredible to me they’re all made in the exact same place in the
all made in the exact same place in the
all made in the exact same place in the bellies of stars which i think is
bellies of stars which i think is
bellies of stars which i think is unbelievable really almost magical but
unbelievable really almost magical but
unbelievable really almost magical but not quite and you know the fact that
not quite and you know the fact that
not quite and you know the fact that every single one of us here has almost
every single one of us here has almost
every single one of us here has almost exactly the same DNA and in fact you and
exactly the same DNA and in fact you and
exactly the same DNA and in fact you and me share 60% of our DNA with a banana so
me share 60% of our DNA with a banana so
me share 60% of our DNA with a banana so you are 60% banana or a banana at 60%
you are 60% banana or a banana at 60%
you are 60% banana or a banana at 60% you however you want to take that all
you however you want to take that all
you however you want to take that all these things I learn it and eventually I
these things I learn it and eventually I
these things I learn it and eventually I started looking up into the Stars and I
started looking up into the Stars and I
started looking up into the Stars and I realized that we are just one small
realized that we are just one small
realized that we are just one small insect
insect
insect to give planet in one decently sized
to give planet in one decently sized
to give planet in one decently sized solar system in one a ver aside galaxy
solar system in one a ver aside galaxy
solar system in one a ver aside galaxy that’s where we are by the way and that
that’s where we are by the way and that
that’s where we are by the way and that is just one in trillions of galaxies in
is just one in trillions of galaxies in
is just one in trillions of galaxies in the universe by the way we can’t
the universe by the way we can’t
the universe by the way we can’t actually see the whole universe that’s
actually see the whole universe that’s
actually see the whole universe that’s why we call it the observable universe
why we call it the observable universe
why we call it the observable universe it might be infinite there might be an
it might be infinite there might be an
it might be infinite there might be an infinite amount of galaxies with an
infinite amount of galaxies with an
infinite amount of galaxies with an infinite amount of planets that’s
infinite amount of planets that’s
infinite amount of planets that’s incredible
incredible
incredible and if you think about it all those
and if you think about it all those
and if you think about it all those things are made of the same stuff –
things are made of the same stuff –
things are made of the same stuff – exactly the same stuff as well
exactly the same stuff as well
exactly the same stuff as well unbelievable really and you know what I
unbelievable really and you know what I
unbelievable really and you know what I would look up into the Stars well
would look up into the Stars well
would look up into the Stars well actually it’d probably look more like
actually it’d probably look more like
actually it’d probably look more like that cuz you know light pollution but
that cuz you know light pollution but
that cuz you know light pollution but you know I look up into the Stars and I
you know I look up into the Stars and I
you know I look up into the Stars and I wonder you know is there morality in the
wonder you know is there morality in the
wonder you know is there morality in the universe and I don’t think it’ll be
universe and I don’t think it’ll be
universe and I don’t think it’ll be controversial to say that the universe
controversial to say that the universe
controversial to say that the universe itself is a moral not immoral but a
itself is a moral not immoral but a
itself is a moral not immoral but a moral Jupiter does not give a damn
moral Jupiter does not give a damn
moral Jupiter does not give a damn whether you live or die regardless of
whether you live or die regardless of
whether you live or die regardless of what your horoscope says you know the
what your horoscope says you know the
what your horoscope says you know the galaxies are not making are not having
galaxies are not making are not having
galaxies are not making are not having moral quandary about destroying each
moral quandary about destroying each
moral quandary about destroying each other and running into each other
other and running into each other
other and running into each other destroying billions of years of hard
destroying billions of years of hard
destroying billions of years of hard work on account of the atoms that made
work on account of the atoms that made
work on account of the atoms that made them they don’t care and that kind of
them they don’t care and that kind of
them they don’t care and that kind of struck something in me because I looked
struck something in me because I looked
struck something in me because I looked up and I saw these things and then I
up and I saw these things and then I
up and I saw these things and then I would look down and I think well we’re
would look down and I think well we’re
would look down and I think well we’re all made of the same stuff mean the
all made of the same stuff mean the
all made of the same stuff mean the galaxies the whole universe so if
galaxies the whole universe so if
galaxies the whole universe so if morality doesn’t apply to the universe
morality doesn’t apply to the universe
morality doesn’t apply to the universe then what is morality does it apply to
then what is morality does it apply to
then what is morality does it apply to me is it just something that we tell
me is it just something that we tell
me is it just something that we tell ourselves to help us sleep soundly
ourselves to help us sleep soundly
ourselves to help us sleep soundly enough and I really started to get into
enough and I really started to get into
enough and I really started to get into a moral crisis about the universe oh
a moral crisis about the universe oh
a moral crisis about the universe oh yeah I mean it’s like what is the point
yeah I mean it’s like what is the point
yeah I mean it’s like what is the point is there a point to being moral is there
is there a point to being moral is there
is there a point to being moral is there a point of me existing and this is high
a point of me existing and this is high
a point of me existing and this is high school at the time guys so I was kind of
school at the time guys so I was kind of
school at the time guys so I was kind of freaking out yeah I had enough to worry
freaking out yeah I had enough to worry
freaking out yeah I had enough to worry about it was barely cats passing my
about it was barely cats passing my
about it was barely cats passing my chemistry exams let alone thinking about
chemistry exams let alone thinking about
chemistry exams let alone thinking about the existential problem with the truth
the existential problem with the truth
the existential problem with the truth free but you know one thing I didn’t
free but you know one thing I didn’t
free but you know one thing I didn’t lose yeah I lost a lot of things you
lose yeah I lost a lot of things you
lose yeah I lost a lot of things you know my faith my my hope I lost a lot of
know my faith my my hope I lost a lot of
know my faith my my hope I lost a lot of things but one thing I didn’t lose was
things but one thing I didn’t lose was
things but one thing I didn’t lose was my thirst for knowledge I kept that with
my thirst for knowledge I kept that with
my thirst for knowledge I kept that with me I kept trying to learn as much as I
me I kept trying to learn as much as I
me I kept trying to learn as much as I possibly could about the world we live
possibly could about the world we live
possibly could about the world we live in regardless of what it taught me
in regardless of what it taught me
in regardless of what it taught me regardless of how it made me feel that
regardless of how it made me feel that
regardless of how it made me feel that is one good thing about science is that
is one good thing about science is that
is one good thing about science is that it doesn’t care how you feel about it it
it doesn’t care how you feel about it it
it doesn’t care how you feel about it it exists regardless and so the more I
exists regardless and so the more I
exists regardless and so the more I learned the more I realized even though
learned the more I realized even though
learned the more I realized even though we I in the universe are also similar it
we I in the universe are also similar it
we I in the universe are also similar it also helped me learn about how different
also helped me learn about how different
also helped me learn about how different we are
we are
we are it helped me learn about how unique
it helped me learn about how unique
it helped me learn about how unique Humanity is I mean cosmic cosmologically
Humanity is I mean cosmic cosmologically
Humanity is I mean cosmic cosmologically speaking life you don’t see it every day
speaking life you don’t see it every day
speaking life you don’t see it every day in fact it is possible although
in fact it is possible although
in fact it is possible although hopefully not true that we might be the
hopefully not true that we might be the
hopefully not true that we might be the only habitable planet in the universe
only habitable planet in the universe
only habitable planet in the universe now but far as we know that’s the case
now but far as we know that’s the case
now but far as we know that’s the case but what does that mean does that mean
but what does that mean does that mean
but what does that mean does that mean we’re special we unique well let’s find
we’re special we unique well let’s find
we’re special we unique well let’s find out let’s start simple okay so how about
out let’s start simple okay so how about
out let’s start simple okay so how about we just have a working definition of
we just have a working definition of
we just have a working definition of morality now some might say well the
morality now some might say well the
morality now some might say well the golden rule would be a good way to sum
golden rule would be a good way to sum
golden rule would be a good way to sum up morality and I’m talking secular
up morality and I’m talking secular
up morality and I’m talking secular morality not associative one particular
morality not associative one particular
morality not associative one particular creature or another so the Golden Rule
creature or another so the Golden Rule
creature or another so the Golden Rule do unto others as you would do to
do unto others as you would do to
do unto others as you would do to yourself now that’s a good start but
yourself now that’s a good start but
yourself now that’s a good start but what about the rhinoceroses what about
what about the rhinoceroses what about
what about the rhinoceroses what about the giraffes what about the bug then you
the giraffes what about the bug then you
the giraffes what about the bug then you step on every day you don’t know this I
step on every day you don’t know this I
step on every day you don’t know this I mean are they part of the moral
mean are they part of the moral
mean are they part of the moral community too I think that a good
community too I think that a good
community too I think that a good working definition of what it means to
working definition of what it means to
working definition of what it means to be moral is to whenever and wherever and
be moral is to whenever and wherever and
be moral is to whenever and wherever and however possible try to increase the
however possible try to increase the
however possible try to increase the flourishing or promote the flourishing
flourishing or promote the flourishing
flourishing or promote the flourishing of autonomous and sentient creatures
of autonomous and sentient creatures
of autonomous and sentient creatures in at the same time we have to do our
in at the same time we have to do our
in at the same time we have to do our best to obstruct and cast out the
best to obstruct and cast out the
best to obstruct and cast out the beliefs of people whatever that try to
beliefs of people whatever that try to
beliefs of people whatever that try to impede on that and what it what does it
impede on that and what it what does it
impede on that and what it what does it mean to be sentient well that just
mean to be sentient well that just
mean to be sentient well that just basically the ability to think and feel
basically the ability to think and feel
basically the ability to think and feel and not just feel like oh that hurts but
and not just feel like oh that hurts but
and not just feel like oh that hurts but I’m in love or I’m very angry when I’m
I’m in love or I’m very angry when I’m
I’m in love or I’m very angry when I’m very nervous as I am right now now this
very nervous as I am right now now this
very nervous as I am right now now this wasn’t my idea actually this is with
wasn’t my idea actually this is with
wasn’t my idea actually this is with other speakers and other people much
other speakers and other people much
other speakers and other people much more intelligent than I am like Sam
more intelligent than I am like Sam
more intelligent than I am like Sam Harris well and I agree with it well so
Harris well and I agree with it well so
Harris well and I agree with it well so with that with that said with a working
with that with that said with a working
with that with that said with a working definition of morality in place let’s
definition of morality in place let’s
definition of morality in place let’s talk about football there are objective
talk about football there are objective
talk about football there are objective things about football and this is how we
things about football and this is how we
things about football and this is how we can tie in science now if in any pursuit
can tie in science now if in any pursuit
can tie in science now if in any pursuit in life if you are not up-to-date on the
in life if you are not up-to-date on the
in life if you are not up-to-date on the scientific advancement of the time and
scientific advancement of the time and
scientific advancement of the time and not just football I mean everything
not just football I mean everything
not just football I mean everything literally everything in the entire world
literally everything in the entire world
literally everything in the entire world we couldn’t have without the advances of
we couldn’t have without the advances of
we couldn’t have without the advances of modern science made in transportation
modern science made in transportation
modern science made in transportation agriculture modern psychology
agriculture modern psychology
agriculture modern psychology communication industry what-have-you and
communication industry what-have-you and
communication industry what-have-you and this is an exhaustive but by no means a
this is an exhaustive but by no means a
this is an exhaustive but by no means a complete list of everything that science
complete list of everything that science
complete list of everything that science makes possible well so how does that
makes possible well so how does that
makes possible well so how does that kind of football if I dress like this in
kind of football if I dress like this in
kind of football if I dress like this in modern day football and I go up against
modern day football and I go up against
modern day football and I go up against someone like this regardless of how how
someone like this regardless of how how
someone like this regardless of how how tough I am regardless of how well I
tough I am regardless of how well I
tough I am regardless of how well I understand the plays regardless of how
understand the plays regardless of how
understand the plays regardless of how much natural talent I have if I’m not
much natural talent I have if I’m not
much natural talent I have if I’m not wearing the right equipment I will get
wearing the right equipment I will get
wearing the right equipment I will get destroyed by this man regardless of what
destroyed by this man regardless of what
destroyed by this man regardless of what I do the same can be said with really
I do the same can be said with really
I do the same can be said with really any pursuit if I’m a doctor and I don’t
any pursuit if I’m a doctor and I don’t
any pursuit if I’m a doctor and I don’t believe in antiseptic I don’t think I’ll
believe in antiseptic I don’t think I’ll
believe in antiseptic I don’t think I’ll get a lot of patients if I am a lawyer
get a lot of patients if I am a lawyer
get a lot of patients if I am a lawyer and I don’t know how to use a computer
and I don’t know how to use a computer
and I don’t know how to use a computer to communicate with people and so they
to communicate with people and so they
to communicate with people and so they can help me help them I probably won’t
can help me help them I probably won’t
can help me help them I probably won’t get a lot of clients it’s the it’s the
get a lot of clients it’s the it’s the
get a lot of clients it’s the it’s the truth in every single pursuit in in
truth in every single pursuit in in
truth in every single pursuit in in human history since the dawn of time if
human history since the dawn of time if
human history since the dawn of time if you’re not up to date then you’re you’re
you’re not up to date then you’re you’re
you’re not up to date then you’re you’re behind the time and in some ways
behind the time and in some ways
behind the time and in some ways irrelevant
well how does this apply to morality
well how does this apply to morality morality is in the exact same boat if I
morality is in the exact same boat if I
morality is in the exact same boat if I don’t understand the world I live in
don’t understand the world I live in
don’t understand the world I live in both scientifically bla philosophically
both scientifically bla philosophically
both scientifically bla philosophically what-have-you culturally then I can’t
what-have-you culturally then I can’t
what-have-you culturally then I can’t make good moral decisions so if I don’t
make good moral decisions so if I don’t
make good moral decisions so if I don’t understand the world I live in
understand the world I live in
understand the world I live in how can I truly be moral well maybe
how can I truly be moral well maybe
how can I truly be moral well maybe there we go now you might think I’ll
there we go now you might think I’ll
there we go now you might think I’ll talk about deforestation or polluting
talk about deforestation or polluting
talk about deforestation or polluting the water or nuclear waste but these are
the water or nuclear waste but these are
the water or nuclear waste but these are not issues of ignorance the size this is
not issues of ignorance the size this is
not issues of ignorance the size this is an issue necklace I mean that no one’s
an issue necklace I mean that no one’s
an issue necklace I mean that no one’s going into these pursuits innocently
going into these pursuits innocently
going into these pursuits innocently anymore no one is pouring nuclear waste
anymore no one is pouring nuclear waste
anymore no one is pouring nuclear waste into the ocean be like what what
into the ocean be like what what
into the ocean be like what what happened you know no one’s saying that
happened you know no one’s saying that
happened you know no one’s saying that anymore we know what we’re doing in
anymore we know what we’re doing in
anymore we know what we’re doing in these situations I could talk about
these situations I could talk about
these situations I could talk about climate change but as I’m sure my dad
climate change but as I’m sure my dad
climate change but as I’m sure my dad could attest I probably couldn’t
could attest I probably couldn’t
could attest I probably couldn’t convince you that it actually exists so
convince you that it actually exists so
convince you that it actually exists so we won’t talk about that what I do want
we won’t talk about that what I do want
we won’t talk about that what I do want to talk about is a particular species of
to talk about is a particular species of
to talk about is a particular species of frog the Panamanian frog and it lives or
frog the Panamanian frog and it lives or
frog the Panamanian frog and it lives or rather lived in Central America no
rather lived in Central America no
rather lived in Central America no longer exists in the wild it’s now by
longer exists in the wild it’s now by
longer exists in the wild it’s now by all by all definitions extinct there’s a
all by all definitions extinct there’s a
all by all definitions extinct there’s a few hundred individuals that live in
few hundred individuals that live in
few hundred individuals that live in captivity but this frog used to be one
captivity but this frog used to be one
captivity but this frog used to be one of the most popular animals like almost
of the most popular animals like almost
of the most popular animals like almost like a mascot of Central America they
like a mascot of Central America they
like a mascot of Central America they had statues little trinkets toys
had statues little trinkets toys
had statues little trinkets toys what-have-you of the Frog and a few
what-have-you of the Frog and a few
what-have-you of the Frog and a few decades ago it just disappear and we
decades ago it just disappear and we
decades ago it just disappear and we have no idea why I had no idea it wasn’t
have no idea why I had no idea it wasn’t
have no idea why I had no idea it wasn’t because we were poisoning the water
because we were poisoning the water
because we were poisoning the water supply it wasn’t that we were doing
supply it wasn’t that we were doing
supply it wasn’t that we were doing anything that we knew would be harmful
anything that we knew would be harmful
anything that we knew would be harmful we were ignorant to what we were doing
we were ignorant to what we were doing
we were ignorant to what we were doing to this frog and this wasn’t hundreds of
to this frog and this wasn’t hundreds of
to this frog and this wasn’t hundreds of years mind.you disappearance this was
years mind.you disappearance this was
years mind.you disappearance this was this is two decades and this thing is
this is two decades and this thing is
this is two decades and this thing is gone millions of sentient creatures died
gone millions of sentient creatures died
gone millions of sentient creatures died painfully in droves you could find piles
painfully in droves you could find piles
painfully in droves you could find piles of frog bodies all over and so you know
of frog bodies all over and so you know
of frog bodies all over and so you know well it turns out that we started
well it turns out that we started
well it turns out that we started looking at other frogs for answer
looking at other frogs for answer
looking at other frogs for answer some of them started having fungi grow
some of them started having fungi grow
some of them started having fungi grow inside of the dead bodies of these frogs
inside of the dead bodies of these frogs
inside of the dead bodies of these frogs where was this coming from I mean we
where was this coming from I mean we
where was this coming from I mean we traced it all the way back to Europe and
traced it all the way back to Europe and
traced it all the way back to Europe and it turns out there’s a species of Toad
it turns out there’s a species of Toad
it turns out there’s a species of Toad that can grow this fungus and it’s
that can grow this fungus and it’s
that can grow this fungus and it’s immune to the effect that it has on the
immune to the effect that it has on the
immune to the effect that it has on the frogs that died off in Central America
frogs that died off in Central America
frogs that died off in Central America and people ignorant to the fact that
and people ignorant to the fact that
and people ignorant to the fact that this fungus can be harmful brought that
this fungus can be harmful brought that
this fungus can be harmful brought that toad over to United States and then it
toad over to United States and then it
toad over to United States and then it eventually migrated down to Central
eventually migrated down to Central
eventually migrated down to Central America
America
America spreading the fungus wherever it went
spreading the fungus wherever it went
spreading the fungus wherever it went and because of our ignorance we allowed
and because of our ignorance we allowed
and because of our ignorance we allowed millions of intelligence feeling
millions of intelligence feeling
millions of intelligence feeling creatures die painfully now just because
creatures die painfully now just because
creatures die painfully now just because we didn’t know what we were doing does
we didn’t know what we were doing does
we didn’t know what we were doing does that mean we’re not at fault morally I
that mean we’re not at fault morally I
that mean we’re not at fault morally I don’t think it does I think that we are
don’t think it does I think that we are
don’t think it does I think that we are to blame for this because we weren’t
to blame for this because we weren’t
to blame for this because we weren’t educated enough to make a good decision
educated enough to make a good decision
educated enough to make a good decision so that’s how science can help us
so that’s how science can help us
so that’s how science can help us practically in morality but I want to
practically in morality but I want to
practically in morality but I want to move this talk to a little bit of a
move this talk to a little bit of a
move this talk to a little bit of a different direction I’m going to propose
different direction I’m going to propose
different direction I’m going to propose something to you hypothesis take or
something to you hypothesis take or
something to you hypothesis take or leave it that I think might help us find
leave it that I think might help us find
leave it that I think might help us find objective moral truth now what I mean by
objective moral truth now what I mean by
objective moral truth now what I mean by objective moral truth is something that
objective moral truth is something that
objective moral truth is something that you can carry with you no matter where
you can carry with you no matter where
you can carry with you no matter where or when you go in time and space and you
or when you go in time and space and you
or when you go in time and space and you can still believe in those things and
can still believe in those things and
can still believe in those things and they are objectively true the issue with
they are objectively true the issue with
they are objectively true the issue with faith based or ideology based morality
faith based or ideology based morality
faith based or ideology based morality is that it’s culturally based and I
is that it’s culturally based and I
is that it’s culturally based and I won’t single out any religion yeah
won’t single out any religion yeah
won’t single out any religion yeah actually I will I’ll use ancient Greek
actually I will I’ll use ancient Greek
actually I will I’ll use ancient Greek religion because I don’t think there’s
religion because I don’t think there’s
religion because I don’t think there’s any worshippers of Zeus in that audience
any worshippers of Zeus in that audience
any worshippers of Zeus in that audience right and if you are I apologize I will
right and if you are I apologize I will
right and if you are I apologize I will not be sacrificing a goat to your God to
not be sacrificing a goat to your God to
not be sacrificing a goat to your God to appease him but let’s look at ancient
appease him but let’s look at ancient
appease him but let’s look at ancient Greece everything about the ancient
Greece everything about the ancient
Greece everything about the ancient Greek gods was Greek they did the exact
Greek gods was Greek they did the exact
Greek gods was Greek they did the exact same thing the Greeks did they laid
same thing the Greeks did they laid
same thing the Greeks did they laid around and drank wine and had wonder its
around and drank wine and had wonder its
around and drank wine and had wonder its battles and and you know and so on and
battles and and you know and so on and
battles and and you know and so on and so forth it was exactly like Greek
so forth it was exactly like Greek
so forth it was exactly like Greek culture the God and the same can be said
culture the God and the same can be said
culture the God and the same can be said with every religion and ideology based
with every religion and ideology based
with every religion and ideology based faith in the world so what’s the issue
faith in the world so what’s the issue
faith in the world so what’s the issue with that cultures don’t usually like to
with that cultures don’t usually like to
with that cultures don’t usually like to agree with one another and they usually
agree with one another and they usually
agree with one another and they usually like to believe that
like to believe that
like to believe that right and so when two people think
right and so when two people think
right and so when two people think they’re right or two cultures think
they’re right or two cultures think
they’re right or two cultures think they’re right usually good things do not
they’re right usually good things do not
they’re right usually good things do not happen usually bad things and the
happen usually bad things and the
happen usually bad things and the problem with that is that if you’re
problem with that is that if you’re
problem with that is that if you’re looking for objective moral truths and
looking for objective moral truths and
looking for objective moral truths and you use faith to justify them you’re
you use faith to justify them you’re
you use faith to justify them you’re actually breeding moral relativism and
actually breeding moral relativism and
actually breeding moral relativism and well moral relativism is
well moral relativism is
well moral relativism is counterproductive to having morality
counterproductive to having morality
counterproductive to having morality that can span time and space it’s an
that can span time and space it’s an
that can span time and space it’s an issue now science on the other hand
issue now science on the other hand
issue now science on the other hand deals in objectivity there’s no Japanese
deals in objectivity there’s no Japanese
deals in objectivity there’s no Japanese chemistry
chemistry
chemistry there’s no Brazilian physics if I went
there’s no Brazilian physics if I went
there’s no Brazilian physics if I went to a physics talk and I said well this
to a physics talk and I said well this
to a physics talk and I said well this whole gravity deal it’s a good idea but
whole gravity deal it’s a good idea but
whole gravity deal it’s a good idea but I think that things should move away
I think that things should move away
I think that things should move away from each other rather than towards each
from each other rather than towards each
from each other rather than towards each other I’d be laughed out of that
other I’d be laughed out of that
other I’d be laughed out of that conference these are objective truths
conference these are objective truths
conference these are objective truths the laws of physics and laws of
the laws of physics and laws of
the laws of physics and laws of chemistry are objective no matter which
chemistry are objective no matter which
chemistry are objective no matter which way you look at it you can’t say that
way you look at it you can’t say that
way you look at it you can’t say that water is made out of special oxygen and
water is made out of special oxygen and
water is made out of special oxygen and special hydrogen hydrogen so if we can
special hydrogen hydrogen so if we can
special hydrogen hydrogen so if we can if we can get moral values from the
if we can get moral values from the
if we can get moral values from the scientific method it is possible to find
scientific method it is possible to find
scientific method it is possible to find that these moral values would be
that these moral values would be
that these moral values would be objective no matter where you go because
objective no matter where you go because
objective no matter where you go because that’s what science deals it so I want
that’s what science deals it so I want
that’s what science deals it so I want to focus on biology to propose this this
to focus on biology to propose this this
to focus on biology to propose this this new type of morality in the pinnacle of
new type of morality in the pinnacle of
new type of morality in the pinnacle of biology is of course evolution now the
biology is of course evolution now the
biology is of course evolution now the problem most people have with a secular
problem most people have with a secular
problem most people have with a secular Darwinistic type of finding a way to be
Darwinistic type of finding a way to be
Darwinistic type of finding a way to be moral is that a lot of people think that
moral is that a lot of people think that
moral is that a lot of people think that the famous line survival of the fittest
the famous line survival of the fittest
the famous line survival of the fittest they kind of don’t understand what
they kind of don’t understand what
they kind of don’t understand what Fitness means in the natural world they
Fitness means in the natural world they
Fitness means in the natural world they think that if we resort to Darwinism to
think that if we resort to Darwinism to
think that if we resort to Darwinism to get our moral values then everyone will
get our moral values then everyone will
get our moral values then everyone will be killing each other in the streets
be killing each other in the streets
be killing each other in the streets because they’re the biggest they’re the
because they’re the biggest they’re the
because they’re the biggest they’re the strongest and I’m weaker so Byard the
strongest and I’m weaker so Byard the
strongest and I’m weaker so Byard the right of nature they should kill me but
right of nature they should kill me but
right of nature they should kill me but that’s not what it’s not what Fitness
that’s not what it’s not what Fitness
that’s not what it’s not what Fitness means Fitness is not brute force its
means Fitness is not brute force its
means Fitness is not brute force its adaptability and in my opinion nothing
adaptability and in my opinion nothing
adaptability and in my opinion nothing makes you more adaptable
makes you more adaptable
makes you more adaptable then apply to telogen not just
then apply to telogen not just
then apply to telogen not just intelligence cuz I’m sure you know
intelligence cuz I’m sure you know
intelligence cuz I’m sure you know someone who’s very intelligent but also
someone who’s very intelligent but also
someone who’s very intelligent but also very dumb but applied intelligence makes
very dumb but applied intelligence makes
very dumb but applied intelligence makes you the most adaptable creature on the
you the most adaptable creature on the
you the most adaptable creature on the planet in fact we’re so adaptable we’re
planet in fact we’re so adaptable we’re
planet in fact we’re so adaptable we’re so intelligent and I like to think the
so intelligent and I like to think the
so intelligent and I like to think the humans are intelligent despite some
humans are intelligent despite some
humans are intelligent despite some political yeah you might look at
political yeah you might look at
political yeah you might look at political figures and think that maybe
political figures and think that maybe
political figures and think that maybe they’re not that intelligent but I’d
they’re not that intelligent but I’d
they’re not that intelligent but I’d like to think we’re pretty smart and in
like to think we’re pretty smart and in
like to think we’re pretty smart and in fact we’re so smart that we don’t even
fact we’re so smart that we don’t even
fact we’re so smart that we don’t even have to genetically grow for a cotan to
have to genetically grow for a cotan to
have to genetically grow for a cotan to live in the Arctic although I’m growing
live in the Arctic although I’m growing
live in the Arctic although I’m growing my fur coat right now we don’t have to
my fur coat right now we don’t have to
my fur coat right now we don’t have to do that
do that
do that they live in cold places anymore it
they live in cold places anymore it
they live in cold places anymore it doesn’t take millions of years of
doesn’t take millions of years of
doesn’t take millions of years of evolution to live all across the globe
evolution to live all across the globe
evolution to live all across the globe we don’t have to grow gills to live near
we don’t have to grow gills to live near
we don’t have to grow gills to live near the coast it’s because we’re smart
the coast it’s because we’re smart
the coast it’s because we’re smart enough to adapt just the way we are so
enough to adapt just the way we are so
enough to adapt just the way we are so nothing makes you more adaptable than
nothing makes you more adaptable than
nothing makes you more adaptable than applied intelligence and in my opinion
applied intelligence and in my opinion
applied intelligence and in my opinion there’s nothing more intelligent than
there’s nothing more intelligent than
there’s nothing more intelligent than having mutual responsibility for one
having mutual responsibility for one
having mutual responsibility for one another there’s always it’s always a
another there’s always it’s always a
another there’s always it’s always a good idea to have someone watching your
good idea to have someone watching your
good idea to have someone watching your back and to expend a little bit of
back and to expend a little bit of
back and to expend a little bit of energy to watch their back in the hopes
energy to watch their back in the hopes
energy to watch their back in the hopes that together you’ll be able to survive
that together you’ll be able to survive
that together you’ll be able to survive this whole deal because I’m not going to
this whole deal because I’m not going to
this whole deal because I’m not going to be able to take the world on by myself
be able to take the world on by myself
be able to take the world on by myself and neither are you and neither is
and neither are you and neither is
and neither are you and neither is anything or anybody and so the more
anything or anybody and so the more
anything or anybody and so the more people that you have mutual
people that you have mutual
people that you have mutual responsibility for the easier it will be
responsibility for the easier it will be
responsibility for the easier it will be to survive in this thing we call life
to survive in this thing we call life
to survive in this thing we call life and it’s really hard to be responsible
and it’s really hard to be responsible
and it’s really hard to be responsible for something if you’re not concerned
for something if you’re not concerned
for something if you’re not concerned for it for instance it’s extremely hard
for it for instance it’s extremely hard
for it for instance it’s extremely hard for someone to do their math homework if
for someone to do their math homework if
for someone to do their math homework if they don’t give a damn about it I’m
they don’t give a damn about it I’m
they don’t give a damn about it I’m sorry mom but it’s extremely boring I’m
sorry mom but it’s extremely boring I’m
sorry mom but it’s extremely boring I’m not concerned about it at all and so it
not concerned about it at all and so it
not concerned about it at all and so it would make evolutionary sense to have
would make evolutionary sense to have
would make evolutionary sense to have biological foundations for caring about
biological foundations for caring about
biological foundations for caring about one another it makes sense if I don’t
one another it makes sense if I don’t
one another it makes sense if I don’t care about you I’m probably not gonna
care about you I’m probably not gonna
care about you I’m probably not gonna take responsibility for you and you need
take responsibility for you and you need
take responsibility for you and you need my help and vice versa and so if we can
my help and vice versa and so if we can
my help and vice versa and so if we can start caring about each other it’ll be
start caring about each other it’ll be
start caring about each other it’ll be much easier for both of us to survive
much easier for both of us to survive
much easier for both of us to survive and have children and our families will
and have children and our families will
and have children and our families will get bigger and we’ll all be able to
get bigger and we’ll all be able to
get bigger and we’ll all be able to survive and with happy lives what does
survive and with happy lives what does
survive and with happy lives what does this mean for morality I don’t think
this mean for morality I don’t think
this mean for morality I don’t think it’s a very big step
it’s a very big step
it’s a very big step from in CERN to carry and from carrying
from in CERN to carry and from carrying
from in CERN to carry and from carrying to morality in again using the working
to morality in again using the working
to morality in again using the working definition we had early in earlier in
definition we had early in earlier in
definition we had early in earlier in the presentation caring for all sentient
the presentation caring for all sentient
the presentation caring for all sentient creatures not just ourselves because the
creatures not just ourselves because the
creatures not just ourselves because the more we learn the more we begin to
more we learn the more we begin to
more we learn the more we begin to understand that without all the other
understand that without all the other
understand that without all the other creatures appear we’d all be dead I mean
creatures appear we’d all be dead I mean
creatures appear we’d all be dead I mean for God’s sakes products from bees if
for God’s sakes products from bees if
for God’s sakes products from bees if the bees died a lot of people are gonna
the bees died a lot of people are gonna
the bees died a lot of people are gonna die
die
die seriously look it up but the more we
seriously look it up but the more we
seriously look it up but the more we start to understand the world we live in
start to understand the world we live in
start to understand the world we live in the more moral or allowed to be and so
the more moral or allowed to be and so
the more moral or allowed to be and so I’d like to leave you today by asking
I’d like to leave you today by asking
I’d like to leave you today by asking you a question what do you think I mean
you a question what do you think I mean
you a question what do you think I mean if there’s anything that you can take
if there’s anything that you can take
if there’s anything that you can take from this talk I don’t want you to think
from this talk I don’t want you to think
from this talk I don’t want you to think that I’m telling me what to believe the
that I’m telling me what to believe the
that I’m telling me what to believe the good thing about science is that it
good thing about science is that it
good thing about science is that it teaches you how to think it doesn’t tell
teaches you how to think it doesn’t tell
teaches you how to think it doesn’t tell you what to think and I think that it
you what to think and I think that it
you what to think and I think that it would be a good idea for us to think
would be a good idea for us to think
would be a good idea for us to think critically to understand the world we
critically to understand the world we
critically to understand the world we live in the only way we’re gonna be
live in the only way we’re gonna be
live in the only way we’re gonna be truly moral is to understand what we’re
truly moral is to understand what we’re
truly moral is to understand what we’re doing you can’t be moral in a vacuum if
doing you can’t be moral in a vacuum if
doing you can’t be moral in a vacuum if I don’t understand the rules of football
I don’t understand the rules of football
I don’t understand the rules of football then I’m not gonna play good football
then I’m not gonna play good football
then I’m not gonna play good football you know if I go to if I go to Argentina
you know if I go to if I go to Argentina
you know if I go to if I go to Argentina or whatever I say let’s play football
or whatever I say let’s play football
or whatever I say let’s play football and they start kicking it around with
and they start kicking it around with
and they start kicking it around with their feet that’s not football
their feet that’s not football
their feet that’s not football it’s so objectively just because
it’s so objectively just because
it’s so objectively just because morality might be an accident of
morality might be an accident of
morality might be an accident of evolution that doesn’t mean that it
evolution that doesn’t mean that it
evolution that doesn’t mean that it can’t have objectivity football is an
can’t have objectivity football is an
can’t have objectivity football is an accident of American culture and it does
accident of American culture and it does
accident of American culture and it does have objective rules and values so don’t
have objective rules and values so don’t
have objective rules and values so don’t be afraid of morality being something
be afraid of morality being something
be afraid of morality being something that was an accident because it does
that was an accident because it does
that was an accident because it does exist but it might not be missing a
exist but it might not be missing a
exist but it might not be missing a metaphysical so if there’s one thing you
metaphysical so if there’s one thing you
metaphysical so if there’s one thing you can take it should be that the
can take it should be that the
can take it should be that the scientific process and the scientific
scientific process and the scientific
scientific process and the scientific method can make you more moral and if I
method can make you more moral and if I
method can make you more moral and if I can submit to you if you want
can submit to you if you want
can submit to you if you want objectivity in your moral values you can
objectivity in your moral values you can
objectivity in your moral values you can have that we can only have it through
have that we can only have it through
have that we can only have it through the one objective based process that we
the one objective based process that we
the one objective based process that we currently have access
currently have access
currently have access and that’s the scientific method thanks
and that’s the scientific method thanks
and that’s the scientific method thanks [Applause]
”
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