Carolina QuotesScience can explain why we value things, but the same goes for values we reject as wrong. That's why scientific explanations of what we value cannot justify those values or serve as a basis to enforce them on others. Since science is the only possible source of justification, if it doesn't work to justify values, nothing does.
Alexander Rosenberg Connected to the Carolinas
Source
No citation is recorded for this quotation.
- work
- The Atheist's Guide to Reality (2011)
- year
- 2011
no citation recorded
Cite this record
“Science can explain why we value things, but the same goes f…” Alexander Rosenberg. Carolina Quotes, record CQ-709CFD5CE1. https://carolinaquotes.com/quote/709cfd5ce1
More from Alexander Rosenberg
If we can't have religion, we need a substitute that is as much like it as science can provide. Enter secular humanism, a doctrine, dare I say, "designed" to do this job. It hasn't worked (...) Scientism recognizes that the ambitions of the secular humanism are unattainable.
the answer to the persistent question, What is the purpose of the universe? is quite simply: There is none.
We have to acknowledge (to ourselves, at least) that many questions we want the "right" answers to just don't have any. These are the questions about the morality of stem-cell research or abortion or affirmative action or gay marriage or our obligations to future generations. Many enlightened people, including many scientists, think that reasonable people can eventually find the right answers to such questions. Alas, it will turn out that all anyone can really find are the answers that they like.