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The book was repeatedly highlighted across several episodes as a key work illustrating how science and reason have shaped moral progress, from debunking historic prejudices to informing contemporary debates on LGBT rights and future ethical challenges. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Michael Shermer discussed its arguments, noting its historical roots in Martin Luther King Jr.'s moral arc concept and its speculation about humanity’s multi‑planetary future. Gary O'Reilly also referenced it when talking about ethics in sports, reinforcing its relevance to a wide range of moral topics.
Episode: StarTalk Live! at Kings Theatre: Science and Moral...
It was discussed in the context of LGBT rights and the concept that science can inform moral decisions, particularly regarding those who are 'born that way'. The discussion also highlighted its chapter on the witch theory of causality and debunking harmful ideas.
So, I mean, in the book I talk about the witch theory of causality. If you believe that burning women at the stake for cavorting with demons in the middle of the night as an explanation for storms and diseases and plagues, then you're either insane or you live 500 years ago.
In the last chapter of the moral arc I speculated on us becoming a Multi-planetary spacefaring civilization in which there's no more nation states either.
In 1959 a poll showed that 96% of Americans were against interracial marriage now they don't even ask the question anymore.
Episode: StarTalk Live! at Kings Theatre: Science and Moral...
It was discussed as a book that explores how science and reason have guided humanity towards concepts of truth, justice, and freedom.
How science and reason lead humanity towards truth, justice, and freedom.
Episode: #ICYMI: The Murky World of Doping in Sports
It was mentioned as one of Michael Shermer's books, who discussed doping in sports and how it impacts athletes' behavior and performance in a cycling context.
publisher of Skeptic magazine and the author of The Moral Arc, Michael Shermer
Episode: Season 7 Time Capsule (Part 2)
It was discussed in relation to the intersection of science and morality, including the question of whether a moral arc exists beyond humanity and if aliens would be good or evil.
On this next episode of Cosmic Queries, I'm joined in studio by co-host Eugene Merman and the founder of Skeptic Magazine and author of The Moral Arc, Michael Schermer.
I speculate...that's audacious, you know.
So I do speculate about this at the last chapter of toward the end of the moral arc.
And I've leaned towards you, Rick, on this.
So then I think it becomes sort of a feedback loop. More science and reason is good for morality. More just and open society is more conducive to science.
Episode: Cosmic Queries – Science and Morality
It was discussed as a book exploring the intersection of science and morality. The title was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., who referenced a 19th-century abolitionist preacher's idea of a moral arc bending towards justice.
And currently it's called the Moral Arc
Well the title of course comes from Dr. King's famous How Long Not Long
That would be Martin Luther King
That's right, yes
And he quoted that verbatim in his speech, yeah
Episode: StarTalk Live! at Kings Theatre: Science and Moral...
It was discussed in the context of LGBT rights, with the suggestion that if science shows something isn't a choice, condemning it is wrong. The book also touches on debunking harmful ideas throughout history.
So first, at the very least, if the science informs us that it's not a choice, you're just born that way, that tells us that condemning it as a wrong choice is itself wrong.
If we know something about biology and embryology and hormones and so on, so there's this great spectrum in sexual choices and preferences, not choices, preferences, that's why we use that word, it's just how it is, or orientation, then we can at least be more respectful.
Now nobody burns women as witches in the West anyway. It's very rare elsewhere. And so we've been debunking essentially wrong ideas, mainly science.
These are wrong ideas, that blacks are inferior, that women can't run companies and countries. These are all wrong ideas and we debunk them to the point where no one even talks about it anymore.
In the last chapter of the moral arc I speculated on us becoming a Multi-planetary spacefaring civilization in which there's no more nation states either.
Episode: StarTalk Live! at Kings Theatre: Science and Moral...
It was discussed in relation to how science and reason can guide humanity toward truth, justice, and freedom, and was mentioned as the author's third book on morality.
How science and reason lead humanity towards truth, justice, and freedom.
Episode: #ICYMI: The Murky World of Doping in Sports
Michael Shermer's book 'The Moral Arc' was discussed in the context of his expertise on doping and ethics in sports, specifically in relation to the moral implications of doping.
author of The Moral Arc, How Science Makes Us Better People.
Episode: Season 7 Time Capsule (Part 2)
It was discussed in the context of the intersection of science and morality, particularly if aliens were discovered and whether they would be good or evil, and whether morality is universal.
So here's Josh I on Twitter asks, if we found life on other worlds, how would that affect the way we look at life on our world?
I speculate... That's audacious, you know.
If we encountered aliens, would they be good or evil?
So I do speculate about this at the last chapter of toward the end of the moral arc.
So always our moral consideration for other animals, including possible hybrids or a clone, would be, you know, are they going to suffer by us bringing them into existence?
Episode: Cosmic Queries – Science and Morality
It was discussed as a book exploring how science and reason have contributed to moral progress throughout history, with a focus on the intersection of science and morality.
And currently it's called the Moral Arc
Well the title of course comes from Dr. King's famous How Long Not Long
And I think I even blurbed this book
And the moral arc is your latest
My goal is to be the shortest blurb On any book jacket