Sam Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Harris
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Harris in 2016
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| Born | Samuel Benjamin Harris April 9, 1967 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Subject | Neuroscience, philosophy, religion, spirituality, ethics, politics |
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Annaka Gorton
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| Children | 2 |
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Philosophy career |
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| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
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| Thesis | The moral landscape: How science could determine human values (2009) |
| Doctoral advisor | Mark Cohen |
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Samuel Benjamin Harris (born April 9, 1967) is an American writer, thinker, and podcast host. He studies the human brain (neuroscience) and big questions about life (philosophy). Harris is known for talking and writing about many topics, including religion, what is right and wrong (ethics), and science.
He became well-known for his criticism of religion. He is often grouped with three other thinkers—Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett—as one of the "Four Horsemen of New Atheism." This group is known for arguing against religious beliefs.
Harris has written several popular books. His first book, The End of Faith (2004), was a bestseller for 33 weeks. He has also written books about morality, spirituality without religion, and other topics. His work has been translated into more than 20 languages. Some people have said his writings are unfair to Islam, but Harris disagrees with this.
Since 2013, he has hosted the popular Making Sense podcast. He also created a meditation app called Waking Up with Sam Harris.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Samuel Benjamin Harris was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 9, 1967. His father, Berkeley Harris, was an actor in Western movies. His mother, Susan Harris, is a famous TV writer who created shows like The Golden Girls.
His parents divorced when he was two, and he was raised by his mother. Harris grew up in a non-religious home. His family rarely talked about religion.
Harris went to Stanford University. He became very interested in big philosophical questions after a particular experience. This led him to take a break from college to travel. He went to India and Nepal, where he studied meditation with Buddhist and Hindu teachers.
After eleven years, he returned to Stanford and finished his degree in philosophy in 2000. After the September 11 attacks, he started writing his first book, The End of Faith. Later, he earned a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the UCLA. For his research, he used brain scans to study what happens in the brain when people believe or disbelieve something.
Career as a Writer and Thinker
Writing Career
Sam Harris writes about philosophy, science, and religion. He is famous for his critiques of religion. He is known as one of the "Four Horsemen of Atheism," along with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett.
He has written for major newspapers and magazines like The New York Times and The Atlantic. Five of his books have been on the New York Times bestseller list. His first book, The End of Faith (2004), won an award and was very popular.
Popular Podcast
In 2013, Harris started his podcast, which is now called Making Sense. In each episode, he has long conversations about science, philosophy, religion, and current events.
He has interviewed many famous guests, including scientists, philosophers, and other thinkers. Some of his guests have been Jordan Peterson, Peter Singer, and David Chalmers.
Meditation App
In 2018, Harris launched a meditation app called Waking Up with Sam Harris. The app offers guided meditations and lessons on how to be more aware and calm. It teaches different types of meditation, such as mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation.
In 2020, Harris promised that his company, Waking Up, would donate at least 10% of its profits to charities that do the most good.
Views on Society and Religion
Religion and Belief
Harris is a well-known critic of religion. He is a leading voice in the New Atheist movement. He argues against believing in things without good evidence, which he calls dogma. He says, "Pretending to know things one doesn't know is a betrayal of science – and yet it is the lifeblood of religion."
While he criticizes religion in general, Harris thinks that not all religions are the same. He often compares the peaceful religion of Jainism with his views on Islam. He argues that a religion's holy books and teachings are important for understanding its impact.
Because of his strong criticism of Islam, some people have called his views Islamophobic. Harris and his supporters say this label is unfair and is used to stop people from discussing important issues.
Spirituality Without Religion
Harris believes people can have spiritual experiences without being religious. He thinks feelings like awe, compassion, and a sense of connection are some of the most valuable experiences a person can have.
He argues that spirituality and science can go together. He believes that practices like meditation can be studied by science and can help people live better lives. In his book Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, he recommends a type of Buddhist meditation called Dzogchen. He says the goal is to realize that our sense of "self" is a kind of illusion, and this understanding can lead to happiness.
Science and Morality
Harris believes that science can help us understand what is right and wrong. In his book The Moral Landscape, he argues that morality is all about the well-being of conscious creatures, like humans and animals. He thinks science can help us figure out which actions lead to more happiness and less suffering for everyone.
He criticizes the idea that what is "right" or "wrong" is just a matter of opinion or culture. He argues that some actions, like hurting others, are clearly bad because they cause suffering. He believes we can use science to make objective claims about what helps or harms people.
Free Will
Harris argues that free will—the idea that we are in complete control of our thoughts and actions—is an illusion. In his book Free Will, he writes that our choices are caused by brain processes that we are not aware of. He says that modern science "reveals you to be a biochemical puppet."
Some philosophers, like Daniel Dennett, agree with some of Harris's points but think his view is too simple. They argue that even if our choices are caused by our brains, we can still be responsible for our actions.
Artificial Intelligence
Harris is very concerned about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). He believes that if we create machines that are much smarter than humans, they could become a major threat.
In a 2016 TED talk, he said that making AI safe is one of the biggest challenges humanity will ever face. He argues that we need to start thinking about these problems now, before it's too late.
Political Views
Harris calls himself a liberal but criticizes ideas from both the political left and right. He is a registered Democrat and has never voted for a Republican president. He supports same-sex marriage.
U.S. Politics
Harris was a strong critic of President George W. Bush. He disagreed with the administration's policies on science and the war in Iraq.
In the 2016 presidential election, he supported Hillary Clinton and strongly opposed Donald Trump. He has criticized Trump for being dishonest. In the 2020 election, he supported Andrew Yang in the Democratic primaries. For the 2024 election, he endorsed Kamala Harris.
Israel
Harris believes that Israel has a right to exist as a state to protect Jewish people from hostility. He has criticized both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas for their actions in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
During the Gaza war that began in October 2023, Harris expressed support for Israel. He condemned the October 7 attacks that started the war. He argued that Israel has a right to defend itself against groups like Hamas.
Gun Rights
Harris owns guns and believes there are good reasons for people to own them for self-defense. However, he also supports some gun control rules, like requiring background checks and mandatory training for anyone who wants to buy a gun.
Personal Life
In 2004, Harris married Annaka Harris, who is also an author and editor. They have two daughters and live in Los Angeles.
In 2020, Harris joined Giving What We Can, an organization where members promise to donate at least 10% of their income to charities that are proven to be effective. He also practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Works
Books
- The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason (2004)
- Letter to a Christian Nation (2006)
- The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values (2010)
- Lying (2011)
- Free Will (2012)
- Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion (2014)
- Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue (with Maajid Nawaz) (2015)
Documentary
- Islam and the Future of Tolerance (2018)[[Category:American people of
See also
In Spanish: Sam Harris para niños
