The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values

Trying to get "Ought" from "Is."

Sam Harris, the youngest of the four horsemen of the new atheist apocalypse, is playing with some interesting ideas "on the moral landscape."  Along the way he skewers several religions, some traditional religious concepts, and even a couple religionists.  He attracted the ire of theologians, philosophers of religion, philosophers, philosophers of science, and scientists alike for his proposal to apply consequentialism to morality by scientifically measuring the impact decisions have on the thriving of humans and other sentients. This book is not the most focused, but following Harris all over the place can be more enjoyable than reading lesser authors stick to their knitting.  Harris writes with sharp wit and wicked turns of phrase.