Brian Greene. Until the End of Time.
Notes on a book by a physicist that sets out a naturalistic world view and covers the trajectory of the universe.
Sean Carroll. The Big Picture.
My notes on a book that presents a comprehensive naturalistic world view. Starts from levels of explanation – ‘Poetic Naturalism.’ Impressive.
Toby Ord. The Precipice.
My notes on a book about existential risks. Humanity is on a precipice where it risks destroying itself and losing its great potential.
Jonathan Haidt. The Righteous Mind
My notes on a book arguing that our minds are righteous as we make moral judgments instinctively and reasoning mainly confirms our intuitions.
Steven Pinker. The Better Angels of our Nature
My notes on a book that argues that violence has declined over history. Wide ranging and impressive.
Sam Harris. The Moral Landscape
My notes on a book arguing that we should develop a science of morality rather than relying on divine authority or accepting moral relativism.
Richard Layard. Can We Be Happier?
My notes on a book discussing using happiness evidence to direct policy.
Richard Layard. Happiness: Lessons From a New Science.
My notes on a book that suggests how happiness science should be applied to improve lives.
Peter Singer. The Expanding Circle.
My notes on a book arguing that through reasoning we can take an increasingly impartial concern for the interests of all and broaden the circle of moral subjects to include all sentient beings.
Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek and Peter Singer. Utilitarianism.
My notes on a book introducing utilitarianism.
Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek and Peter Singer. The Point of View of the Universe
My notes on a book that sets out Sidgwick’s utilitarian position, relates it to more recent literature and argues for a modern utilitarianism.
Joshua Greene. Moral Tribes
My notes on a book arguing that we should use utilitarian reasoning to transcend our automatic moral emotions.
Steven Pinker. Rationality
My notes on a book that explains and argues for rationality.
Anil Seth. Being You
My notes on the book that explains consciousness as controlled hallucination.
Nicholas Humphrey. Soul Dust.
My notes on a book that presents a view of consciousness as having evolved to motivate by making experience enchanting.
Thomas Metzinger. The Ego Tunnel
My notes on a book arguing that conscious experience and the self have evolved to be transparent so we think they are real.