We discuss the biggest questions: "what's real?", "who matters?" and "how to make a better world?" with scientists, celebrities, activists, writers and philosophers. The Sentientism worldview is "evidence, reason and compassion for all sentient beings." It's a simple, yet radical, philosophy that's grounded in reality (naturalistic epistemology) and has compassion for all sentient beings (mostly human and non-human animals). Naturalism & sentiocentrism combined.
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Adam is a Lecturer in Env. Sci. at Deakin Uni. He works on questions related to ecology, conservation & society. He is most interested in: i) how concern for Animals informs environmental values & practice, ii) the env. potential of transitioning to plant-based agri & iii) more critical approaches to how the sciences consider Animals. Adam wants to leverage research to help create a better future for Animals, the environment & humans.
In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the two most important questions: “what’s real?” & “what matters?”
Sentientism is “evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” The video of our conversation is here on YouTube.
We discuss:
00:00 Welcome
01:57 Adam’s Intro – “An animal person”. Vegan activist, lecturer & scientist
– The idea that animals matter “took over”
03:16 What’s Real?
– Catholic grandma, mother traumatised by Catholicism, non-religious father
– High-school: enthusiastic atheism & “an affinity with science”
– Uni: learning about the social history & context of religions
– “I’m a proper atheist… I just don’t think there’s anything there”
– “How I think about reality is grounded in natural science”
– Humility re: complex systems (e.g. social, envir)
– Scientism. Science might not have all of the answers
– Reading fantasy & sci-fi: “Religion is just another fantasy book”
– Religious friends. Talking about bible inconsistencies & faith & submission
– “Letting your thinking be done by others – I’m not into that”
– Scepticism “show me the evidence”
– The positives of religious community & connection
– Environment: “Why can’t we love it for what it is rather than investing some sort of supernaturalness into it”
– Faith vs. evidence & reason
– Pseudoscience & “pretend naturalism”
– Conspiracy theories, woo & Goop
– “Pseudoscience tries to use the language of science to trick people”
– QAnon: “That stuff is batshit”
– Teaching science communication
– Flat Earth, Cults & “True Believers”
– The “Oh No Ross & Carrie” podcast https://ohnopodcast.com/
– “Religion is an accepted mass delusion”
– Heaven & hell: “It’s a good way to control people”
33:40 What Matters?
– Social cohesion & relationships
– “Being good to the person next to you… not harming”
– Pluralism: virtues, deontology, utilitarianism, consequentialism
– Evolution of morality: from having young that need care
– “Survival of the most caring?”
– “I don’t want to just propogate my genes any more – that’s why I’m not down the sperm bank every day”
– “Ethicists & philosophers often talk shit”
– The frequent disregard of conservationists for sentients (e.g. culling)
…and much more. Full show notes at Sentientism.info.
Sentientism is “Evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” More at Sentientism.info. Join our “I’m a Sentientist” wall via this simple form.
Everyone, Sentientist or not, is welcome in our groups. The biggest so far is here on FaceBook. Come join us there!
Thanks Graham.
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