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Revista Científica General José María Córdova

Print version ISSN 1900-6586

Abstract

EARP, Brian D. Science cannot Determine Human Values. Rev. Cient. Gen. José María Córdova [online]. 2015, vol.13, n.15, pp.233-243. ISSN 1900-6586.

Sam Harris, in his book The Moral Landscape (2011), argues that "science can determine human values." Against this view, I argue that while secular moral philosophy can certainly help us to determine our values, science-at least as that word is commonly understood-must play a subservient role. To the extent that science can "determine" what we ought to do, it is only by providing us with empirical information, which can then be slotted into a chain of deductive (moral) reasoning. The premises of such reasoning, however, can in no way be derived from the scientific method: they come, instead, from philosophy-and common sense.

Keywords : common sense; deductive moral reasoning; empirical information; human values; moral philosophy; science.

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