Session III 9 : 30 – 10 : 45 AM

Session I 9:30 – 10:45 AM Andrew Miles: Roanoke College Department of Philosophy Good, Evil and Well-being: Sam Harris’ Scientific Approach to Ethics One of the most controversial debates in ethics is how to define Good and Evil. Do “good” actions necessarily adhere to commandments set by a God? Or are there many different, equally valid definitions based on cultural norms? Neuroscientist and author Sam Harris argues that the only concrete basis of ethics—and, therefore, the basis of Good and Evil—must come from science. Harris combines established utilitarian philosophy with the evolving field of neuroscience to create a foundation of morality based on physical and mental well-being. In this presentation I will analyze Harris’ ethical framework as well as examine Harris’ arguments against other ethical systems, including divine command theory and moral relativism.