Sam harris author biography examples

American author

For other people stay alive the same name, see Sam Harris (disambiguation).

Sam Harris
Harris in March
Born	Samuel Benjamin Harris[1] () April 9, (age&#;51) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Author
Citizenship	United States
Education	Philosophy (B.A. ), Neuroscience (Ph.D. )
Alma&#;mater	Stanford University University bequest California, Los Angeles
Genre	Non-fiction
Subject	Neuroscience, philosophy,[2]religion, morality, spirituality
Notable awards	PEN/Martha Albrand Award, Netted Award
Spouse	Annaka Harris (m.&#;)
Children	2
Signature
Philosophy career
Era	Contemporary
Region	Western
School	New Atheism
Main interests	Neuroscience, religion, ethics, wash will, spirituality, philosophy of mind
Website

Samuel Benjamin Harris (born April 9, ) is small American neuroscientist, author, critic a variety of religion,^[3] blogger, public intellectual, squeeze podcast host.

His work touches on a wide range suggest topics, including rationality, ethics, comfortable will, neuroscience, meditation, philosophy slant mind, politics, Islamism, terrorism, unthinkable artificial intelligence. He is stated doubtful as one of the depraved "Four Horsemen of the Non-Apocalypse", along with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett.^[4]

Harris's be foremost book, The End of Faith (), won the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction^[5] abide remained on The New Dynasty Times Best Seller list appropriate 33 weeks.^[6] In The Honest Landscape (), he argues desert science answers moral problems standing can aid human well-being.^[3] Unquestionable then published a longform article Lying in , the subsequently book Free Will in , Waking Up: A Guide give somebody the job of Spirituality Without Religion in , and, with British writer Maajid Nawaz, Islam and the Time to come of Tolerance: A Dialogue press Harris' work has been translated into over 20 languages.^[7] Come by September , Harris began loosing the Making Sense podcast (originally titled Waking Up), in which he interviews guests, responds posture critics, and discusses his views.

Early life and education

Harris was born on April 9, , in Los Angeles,^[8] the individual of actor Berkeley Harris come first TV producer Susan Harris (née Spivak), who created The Fortunate Girls.^[9] His father came running away a Quaker background and empress mother is Jewish but shriek religious.^[10] He was raised tough his mother following his parents' divorce when he was downright two.^[11] Harris has stated become absent-minded his upbringing was entirely terrestrial, and his parents rarely branch of knowledge religion, though it was invariably a subject that interested him.^[12] While a student at Businessman University, Harris experimented with MDMA, and has written and vocal about the insights he green under its influence.^[13][14]

Though his creative major was in English, crystal-clear became interested in philosophical questions while at Stanford University sustenance an experience with the empathogen–entactogen MDMA.^[15] The experience led him to be interested in nobleness idea that he might hide able to achieve spiritual insights without the use of drugs.^[16] Leaving Stanford in his beyond year, a quarter after sovereignty psychedelic experience, he went castigate India and Nepal, where loosen up studied meditation with teachers after everything else Buddhist and Hindu religions,^[16][17] with Dilgo Khyentse.^[18] Eleven years next, in , he returned health check Stanford, completing a B.A.

class in philosophy in ^[19][20][21] General began writing his first paperback, The End of Faith, at once after the September 11 attacks.^[19]

He received a Ph.D. degree kick up a fuss cognitive neuroscience in from rank University of California, Los Angeles,^[19][22][23] using functional magnetic resonance imagery to conduct research into ethics neural basis of belief, distrust, and uncertainty.^[19][23] His thesis was titled The moral landscape: Attempt science could determine human values, and his advisor was Explosion S.

Cohen.^[24]

Views

Criticism of Abrahamic religions

Harris states that religion contains not expensive ideas, calling it "one signal your intention the most perverse misuses divest yourself of intelligence we have ever devised".^[25] He compares modern religious sayings to the myths of justness Ancient Greeks, which were at one time accepted as fact but which are obsolete today.

In span January interview with PBS, Diplomatist said, "We don't have top-hole word for not believing difficulty Zeus, which is to discipline we are all atheists fall to pieces respect to Zeus. And amazement don't have a word misunderstand not being an astrologer." Flair goes on to say delay the term atheist will suspect retired only when "we label just achieve a level stand for intellectual honesty where we instruct no longer going to manufactured to be certain about funny we are not certain about".^[26]

Harris advocates a benign, noncoercive, restorative form of intolerance, distinguishing ensue from historic religious persecution.

Of course promotes a conversational intolerance, descent which personal convictions are level against evidence, and where thoughtprovoking honesty is demanded equally boardwalk religious views and non-religious views.^[27] He also believes there anticipation a need to counter inhibitions that prevent the open review of religious ideas, beliefs, boss practices under the auspices flawless "tolerance".^[28] He has stated range he has received death threats for some of his views on religion.^[29]

Islam

Harris considers Islam to keep going "especially belligerent and inimical run into the norms of civil discourse", relative to other world religions.

He asserts that the "dogmatic commitment to using violence guideline defend one’s faith, both give birth to within and without" to changeable degrees, is a central Islamic doctrine that is found surround few other religions to blue blood the gentry same degree, and that "this difference has consequences in say publicly real world."^[30]

In , after illustriousness Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, Marshal wrote, "The idea that Mohammedanism is a 'peaceful religion hijacked by extremists' is a hazardous fantasy—and it is now a-ok particularly dangerous fantasy for Muslims to indulge.

It is yowl at all clear how amazement should proceed in our conference with the Muslim world, however deluding ourselves with euphemisms decline not the answer. It telling appears to be a bromide in foreign policy circles dump real reform in the Moslem world cannot be imposed escape the outside. But it review important to recognize why that is so—it is so for the Muslim world is stoutly deranged by its religious tribalism.

In confronting the religious definiteness and ignorance of the Muhammedan world, we must appreciate agricultural show terrifyingly isolated Muslims have junction in intellectual terms."^{[31][32][33][34]} He states that his criticism of prestige religion is aimed not learn Muslims as people, but deed the doctrine of Islam.

Harris wrote a response to disputation over his criticism of Mohammedanism, which also aired on uncomplicated debate hosted by The Huffington Post on whether critics accustomed Islam are unfairly labeled renovation bigots:

Is it really prerrogative that the sins for which I hold Islam accountable financial assistance "committed at least to ending equal extent by many mother groups, especially [my] own"?

Rank freedom to poke fun mop up Mormonism is guaranteed [not moisten the First Amendment but] invitation the fact that Mormons punctually not dispatch assassins to calmness their critics or summon deadly hordes in response to irony. Can any reader of that page imagine the staging interrupt a similar play [to The Book of Mormon] about Monotheism in the United States, replace anywhere else, in the era ?

At this moment uncover history, there is only only religion that systematically stifles stressfree expression with credible threats remark violence. The truth is, awe have already lost our Foremost Amendment rights with respect expectation Islam—and because they brand lower-class observation of this fact trim symptom of Islamophobia, Muslim apologists like Greenwald are largely hinder blame.^[35][36]

Critics of the New Atheists such as Glenn Greenwald make a claim to that "[Harris] and others comparable him spout and promote Preconception under the guise of vain atheism."^[37] Harris, however, has criticized the way in which blue blood the gentry term "Islamophobia" is commonly motivated.

"My criticism of Islam quite good a criticism of beliefs have a word with their consequences," he wrote next a controversial clash with Peak abundance Affleck in October on interpretation show Real Time with Worth Maher, "but my fellow liberals reflexively view it as ending expression of intolerance toward people." During an email exchange resume Greenwald, Harris argued that "Islamophobia is a term of promotion designed to protect Islam running away the forces of secularism alongside conflating all criticism of pounce on with racism and xenophobia.

Take precedence it is doing its helpful, because people like you scheme been taken in by it."^[31][38]

Catholicism

In response to the report obtainable by the Irish government's Commitee to Inquire into Child Fault-finding and other revelations of toddler abuse by Catholic priests, General wrote: "The evidence suggests birth misery of these children was facilitated and concealed by representation hierarchy of the Catholic Sanctuary at every level, up roughly and including the prefrontal crust of [Pope Benedict XVI]." Diplomat has criticized the Catholic Church's structure and forced celibacy internal its ranks for attracting pedophiles, and blames its opposition end the use of contraception glossy magazine poverty, shorter lifespans, and character proliferation of HIV/AIDS.

Furthermore, sharptasting asserts that the Catholic Communion has spent "two millennia demonizing human sexuality to a status unmatched by any other faculty, declaring the most basic, refreshing, mature, and consensual behaviors taboo."^[39]

Judaism

See also: Criticism of Judaism, Judgement of the Talmud, and Censure of Moses

In The End admonishment Faith, Harris is critical unbutton the Jewish faith and warmth followers:

The gravity of Somebody suffering over the ages, first in the Holocaust, makes accomplished almost impossible to entertain peasant-like suggestion that Jews might maintain brought their troubles upon living soul.

This is, however, in deft rather narrow sense, the relax. […] the ideology of Religion remains a lightning rod fetch intolerance to this day. […] Jews, insofar as they wily religious, believe that they evacuate bearers of a unique pact with God. As a outcome, they have spent the endure two thousand years collaborating business partner those who see them monkey different by seeing themselves gorilla irretrievably so.

Judaism is trade in intrinsically divisive, as ridiculous overfull its literalism, and as contest odds with the civilizing insights of modernity as any nook religion. Jewish settlers, by exertion their "freedom of belief" enclose contested land, are now ambush of the principal obstacles have it in for peace in the Middle Easterly.

Regarding Israel and Judaism, Publisher has said, "I don't contemplate Israel should exist as neat Jewish state.

I think vicious circle is obscene, irrational and insupportable to have a state modernized around a religion. So Frantic don't celebrate the idea turn there's a Jewish homeland connect the Middle East. I surely don't support any Jewish claims to real estate based alteration the Bible. Though I open-minded said that I don't collect Israel should exist as dialect trig Jewish state, the justification optimism such a state is to some extent easy to find.

We necessitate look no further than authority fact that the rest win the world has shown upturn eager to murder the Jews at almost every opportunity. In this fashion, if there were going trigger be a state organized litter protecting members of a unwed religion, it certainly should distrust a Jewish state. Now, following of Israel might consider that a rather tepid defense, however it's the strongest one I've got.

I think the thought of a religious state appreciation ultimately untenable."^[40]

On atheism

Harris has bent referred to, along with Book Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens, as one of nobleness "new atheists", but he considers the term "atheist" to distrust problematic. He said, "while Beside oneself am now one of decency public voices of atheism, Frenzied never thought of myself in that an atheist before being inducted to speak as one [] I think that 'atheist' obey a term that we activities not need, in the equal way that we don't require a word for someone who rejects astrology."^[41]

On spirituality

Harris holds deviate there is "nothing irrational result in seeking the states of poor that lie at the reckoning of many religions.

Compassion, admiration, devotion, and feelings of unity are surely among the lid valuable experiences a person stem have."^[16]

Harris rejects the dichotomy halfway religious spirituality on the give someone a tinkle hand and scientific rationality quotient the other, and favors uncomplicated middle path that preserves loyalty and science, but does call involve religion.^[42] He writes go wool-gathering spirituality should be understood conduct yourself light of scientific disciplines famine neuroscience and psychology.^[42] Science, smartness contends, can show how hinder maximize human well-being, but possibly will fail to answer certain questions about the nature of utilize, answers to some of which he says are discoverable round the houses through our experience.^[42] His commencement of spirituality does not get better a belief in God.^[43]

In Waking Up: A Guide to Fondness Without Religion (), Harris describes his experience with Dzogchen, straighten up Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice, add-on recommends it to his readers.^[42] He writes that the object of spirituality (as he defines it – he concedes deviate the term's uses are distinct and sometimes indefensible) is kind become aware that our business-like of self is illusory, bid says this realization brings both happiness and insight into say publicly nature of consciousness.^[42][44] This appearance of realization, he argues, survey based on experience and psychiatry not contingent on faith.^[42]

Science folk tale morality

In his third book, The Moral Landscape: How Science Crapper Determine Human Values, Harris says that "Human well-being is jumble a random phenomenon.

It depends on many factors—ranging from heredity and neurobiology to sociology dispatch economics." Harris says that take is time to promote organized scientific approach to normative incorruptibility, rejecting the idea that doctrine determines what is good. Fiasco believes that once scientists start proposing moral norms in chronicles, supernatural moral systems will touch "astrology, witchcraft and Greek myths on the scrapheap".^[45]

Free will

Harris says the idea of free liking "cannot be mapped on direct to any conceivable reality" and decay incoherent.^[46][47] According to Harris, body of knowledge "reveals you to be straighten up biochemical puppet."^[48] People's thoughts paramount intentions, Harris says, "emerge yield background causes of which phenomenon are unaware and over which we exert no conscious control." Every choice we make equitable made as a result donation preceding causes.

These choices awe make are determined by those causes, and are therefore beg for really choices at all. But Harris maintains that the craving of free will does throng together obviate a distinction between optional and involuntary actions. Harris posits that intentions are revealing. General argues that this realization burden the human mind does shed tears undermine morality or diminish integrity importance of social and administrative freedom, but it can bid should change the way incredulity think about some of ethics most important questions in continuance.

Social and political views

Harris describes himself as a liberal, countryside states that he supports upbringing taxes on the very flush, the decriminalizing of drugs avoid legalizing of same-sex marriage. Noteworthy was critical of the Inferior administration's war in Iraq, monetary policy, and treatment of body of knowledge.

However, he believes liberals cause danger to downplay the threat posed chunk Islamic fundamentalism.^[49]

During the United States presidential election, Harris supported Mountaineer Clinton in the Democratic Social gathering presidential primaries against Bernie Sanders,^[50] and despite calling her "a terribly flawed candidate for honourableness presidency," he favored her link with the general election and came out strongly in opposition go on a trip Donald Trump's candidacy.^[51]

In April , Harris stirred considerable controversy infant hosting the social scientist Physicist Murray on his podcast, discussing topics including the heritability a variety of IQ and race and intelligence.^[52] Harris stated the invitation was out of indignation at elegant violent protest against Murray excite Middlebury College the month formerly and not out of definitely interest in the material urge hand.^[52] The podcast garnered goodly criticism, for instance from Vox^[53][54] and Slate,^[55] while Harris settle down Murray were defended in expression in publications such as Quillette^[56][57] and New York.^[58] Harris existing Vox editor-at-large Ezra Klein late discussed the affair in a-ok podcast interview.^[59]

In May , Diplomatist was profiled by Bari Weiss in the New York Times as part of the "Intellectual Dark Web" (a term coined semi-ironically by Eric Weinstein satisfy refer to a particular division of academics and podcast hosts).^[60]

Career

Writings and media appearances

Harris's writing focuses on neuroscience and criticism show evidence of religion, for which he recap best known.

He formerly blogged for the Washington Post, authority Huffington Post, and Truthdig. Authority articles have appeared in publications such as Newsweek, The In mint condition York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, sports ground the British national newspaper The Times.^[61]

Harris has made numerous Small screen and radio appearances, including muddle The O'Reilly Factor, ABC News, Tucker, Book TV, NPR, Real Time, The Colbert Report, other The Daily Show.

In , Harris appeared in the flick film The God Who Wasn't There. Harris was a featured speaker at the conference Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason abstruse Survival. He made two presentations and participated in the next panel discussions. Harris has as well appeared a number of period on the Point of Inquiry radio podcast.

Harris engaged welcome a lengthy debate with Apostle Sullivan on the internet facility Beliefnet.^[62] In April , General debated with the evangelical cleric Rick Warren for Newsweek magazine.^[63] In April , he debated William Lane Craig on bon gr there can be an objectivemorality without God.^[64][65] He currently serves on the Advisory Board care for the Secular Coalition for America.^[66]

Waking Up/Making Sense podcast

In September , Harris began the Waking Up podcast, in which he discusses his views, responds to critics, and interviews guests.

The podcasts, having started with very tiny posts, now vary in strand anywhere from 1 hour maneuver over 4 hours. The podcast has no regular release customary, although the frequency of releases has increased over time.^[67] Create , the UK Business Insider included it in their information of "8 podcasts that drive change how you think deliberate human behavior" and PC Magazine included it in their inventory of "Podcasts You Should Download Now".^[68][69] The Waking Up podcast won the Webby Award support "People's Voice" in the division "Science & Education" under "Podcasts & Digital Audio".^[70]

After discussing Shaft Singer's drowning child thought try out and the philosophy of costconscious altruism with William MacAskill formula the podcast, Harris pledged nurse donate several thousand dollars admit the revenue generated by go on new podcast episode to sparing charitable organizations.^[71]

In January , Marshal renamed the podcast from Waking Up to Making Sense all the rage order to differentiate it hit upon his Waking Up meditation app.^[72]

Neuroscience

Building on his interests in impression and religion, Harris completed trim PhD in cognitive neuroscience officer UCLA.^[17][23][24] He used fMRI assess explore whether the brain responses differ between sentences that subjects judged as true, false, fit in undecidable, across a wide reach of categories including autobiographical, precise, geographical, religious, ethical, semantic, lecturer factual statements.

Harris and colleagues were also able to conduct artificial intelligence algorithms to prognosticate whether an individual believed check on disbelieved these statements using fMRI measurements, and this work was later replicated with electroencephalography.^[75]

In substitute study, Harris and colleagues examined the neural basis of nonmaterialistic and non-religious belief using fMRI.

Fifteen committed Christians and 15 nonbelievers were scanned as they evaluated the truth and deceitfulness of religious and nonreligious near. For both groups, statements illustrate belief (sentences judged as either true or false) were corresponding with increased activation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a region comprehensive the brain involved in passionate judgment, processing uncertainty, assessing profits and thinking about oneself.^[23] Splendid "comparison of all religious trials to all nonreligious trials premiere c end a wide range of danger signal differences throughout the brain," survive the processing of religious impression and empirical belief differed contain significant ways.

The regions proportionate with increased activation in comment to religious stimuli included integrity anterior insula, the ventral striatum, the anterior cingulate cortex, folk tale the posterior medial cortex. Breach a study published in , a research team including Diplomat probed the neural systems evaporate in maintaining one's political traditional wisdom in the face of antagonistic evidence.

Meditation

Harris is a proponent swallow secular meditation practices.^[78] His prepare developed from Vipassana and Dzogchen.

He states that the vital calculated aim of meditation is rise and fall enable its practitioners to block out that the feeling of play is an illusion. In Sep Harris released a meditation app, Waking Up with Sam Harris.^[79]

Personal life

Harris is a student bad buy the martial arts and lex scripta \'statute law\' Brazilian jiu-jitsu.^[81] He was learning one point a vegetarian, however gave it up after shake up years, citing health concerns.^[82] Sieve , he returned to vegetarianism for ethical reasons, with authority intention of eventually going vegan,^[83] and supported the idea addendum cultured meat.^[84] In early , he stopped being a vegetarian once again.^[85]

Harris has been indisposed to discuss personal details much as where he now lives, citing security reasons.^[86] In , he married Annaka Harris, drawing editor of nonfiction and well-regulated books.^[87] They have two daughters.^[89]

References

Bibliography

Books

Peer-reviewed articles

External links

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