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Beyond Cosmic Dice: Moral Life in a Random World
"Beyond Cosmic Dice" offers a new perspective on the purpose and meaning of life free from any divine influence. By rejecting the false premises of religion, readers are free to pave their own road for a better life.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published April 22, 2009
4 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Schweitzer
7 books30 followersDr. Jeff Schweitzer is a marine biologist, consultant and internationally recognized authority in ethics, conservation and development. He is the author of five books including Calorie Wars: Fat, Fact and Fiction (July 2011), and A New Moral Code (2010). Dr. Schweitzer has spoken at numerous international conferences in Asia, Russia, Europe and the United States.
Dr. Schweitzer's work is based on his desire to introduce a stronger set of ethics into American efforts to improve the human condition worldwide. He has been instrumental in designing programs that demonstrate how third world development and protecting our resources are compatible goals. His vision is to inspire a framework that ensures that humans can grow and prosper indefinitely in a healthy environment.
Formerly, Dr. Schweitzer served as an Assistant Director for International Affairs in the Office of Science and Technology Policy under former President Clinton. Prior to that, Dr. Schweitzer served as the Chief Environmental Officer at the State Department's Agency for International Development. In that role, he founded the multi-agency International Cooperative Biodiversity Group Program, a U.S. Government that promoted conservation through rational economic use of natural resources.
Dr. Schweitzer began his scientific career in the field of marine biology. He earned his Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. He expanded his research at the Center for Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine. While at U.C. Irvine he was awarded the Science, Engineering and Diplomacy Fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Schweitzer's work is based on his desire to introduce a stronger set of ethics into American efforts to improve the human condition worldwide. He has been instrumental in designing programs that demonstrate how third world development and protecting our resources are compatible goals. His vision is to inspire a framework that ensures that humans can grow and prosper indefinitely in a healthy environment.
Formerly, Dr. Schweitzer served as an Assistant Director for International Affairs in the Office of Science and Technology Policy under former President Clinton. Prior to that, Dr. Schweitzer served as the Chief Environmental Officer at the State Department's Agency for International Development. In that role, he founded the multi-agency International Cooperative Biodiversity Group Program, a U.S. Government that promoted conservation through rational economic use of natural resources.
Dr. Schweitzer began his scientific career in the field of marine biology. He earned his Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. He expanded his research at the Center for Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine. While at U.C. Irvine he was awarded the Science, Engineering and Diplomacy Fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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April 11, 2010Excellent presentation of the case for secular humanism. Dr. Schweitzer writes with clarity and humour. I look forward to finishing the book and will add a review.
Just finished the book. Highly recommended. It will make you think and reflect.
Just finished the book. Highly recommended. It will make you think and reflect.
June 25, 2011
Beyond Cosmic Dice by Jeff Schweitzer and Guiseppe Notarbartolo-di-Sciara
"Beyond Cosmic Dice..." is a philosophical book that looks at the meaning of life through secular eyes. It makes a strong case that humans must create their own ethics without interference of religious dogma. This 258-page book is composed of the following three parts: Part I: Human Kind Inperspective, Part II. Religion and Morality, and Part III. A New Natural Ethic.
Positives:
1. It's an accessible, well-written book that flows well.
2. Provides compelling arguments against the veracity of the bible. Including immoral scripture.
3. Provides arguments in favor of a new moral code that is devoid of "God" and religion.
4. Great quotes spruced throughout book.
5. Provides good arguments in favor of a naturalist worldview.
6. Where would we be without Darwin's awe-inspiring theory of evolution?
7. We were not created...the great diversity of life is a result of random changes that occur over a long period of time.
8. The interesting look at bonobos and their sense of morality.
9. Observational learning in the animal kingdom.
10. The rejection of dualism and hence the insupportable soul.
11. The origin of religion, the need to control and the need to explain away the unknown.
12. Interesting look at religious cults.
13. Evolution as proof that life has no design, purpose or inherent meaning.
14. The importance of natural ethics created by humans through choice.
15. In defense of natural ethics. The superiority of natural ethics over religious morality.
16. An excellent review of major moral theories.
17. Sound moral principles are presented.
18. A chart with a chronology of how moral theory evolved. Excellent.
Negatives:
1. Links did not work for Kindle.
2. Weak humor but attempt was appreciated.
3. Some areas were glanced over. Example...the concept of the soul.
4. Nothing really groundbreaking but the book was informative.
In summary, I enjoyed this book. It was a pleasant read and the authors accomplished what they sought out to do which is to present the superiority of natural ethics over religious morality. The book does a good job of establishing a strong case for natural ethics by using sound reasoning.
Further recommendations: "Sense and Goodness without God" by Richard Carrier, "Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals about Morality" by Laurence Tancredi, "Christian No More..." by Jeffrey Mark, "Godless..." by Dan Barker and "The Moral Landscape" by Sam Harris.
"Beyond Cosmic Dice..." is a philosophical book that looks at the meaning of life through secular eyes. It makes a strong case that humans must create their own ethics without interference of religious dogma. This 258-page book is composed of the following three parts: Part I: Human Kind Inperspective, Part II. Religion and Morality, and Part III. A New Natural Ethic.
Positives:
1. It's an accessible, well-written book that flows well.
2. Provides compelling arguments against the veracity of the bible. Including immoral scripture.
3. Provides arguments in favor of a new moral code that is devoid of "God" and religion.
4. Great quotes spruced throughout book.
5. Provides good arguments in favor of a naturalist worldview.
6. Where would we be without Darwin's awe-inspiring theory of evolution?
7. We were not created...the great diversity of life is a result of random changes that occur over a long period of time.
8. The interesting look at bonobos and their sense of morality.
9. Observational learning in the animal kingdom.
10. The rejection of dualism and hence the insupportable soul.
11. The origin of religion, the need to control and the need to explain away the unknown.
12. Interesting look at religious cults.
13. Evolution as proof that life has no design, purpose or inherent meaning.
14. The importance of natural ethics created by humans through choice.
15. In defense of natural ethics. The superiority of natural ethics over religious morality.
16. An excellent review of major moral theories.
17. Sound moral principles are presented.
18. A chart with a chronology of how moral theory evolved. Excellent.
Negatives:
1. Links did not work for Kindle.
2. Weak humor but attempt was appreciated.
3. Some areas were glanced over. Example...the concept of the soul.
4. Nothing really groundbreaking but the book was informative.
In summary, I enjoyed this book. It was a pleasant read and the authors accomplished what they sought out to do which is to present the superiority of natural ethics over religious morality. The book does a good job of establishing a strong case for natural ethics by using sound reasoning.
Further recommendations: "Sense and Goodness without God" by Richard Carrier, "Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals about Morality" by Laurence Tancredi, "Christian No More..." by Jeffrey Mark, "Godless..." by Dan Barker and "The Moral Landscape" by Sam Harris.
August 13, 2010
It's difficult for me to give an unbiased opinion since the book basically just validates my existing opinions. But despite some pointed comments and snark, the authors do a good job of explaining logically and scientifically how there is a distinct difference between religious morality and natural ethics. They explore how religion can actually prevent us from being the compassionate and tolerant humans were are meant to be (especially dogmatic religion), how we got to this place, and how we can move on acting with morals simply because were are social humans and not because some religion told us there will be specific consequences unless some form of ritualistic penance is served or rewards besides a happy, content life. We should "do the right thing" simply because it is, not because someone told us we should. Having said that, the suggestions of characteristics to follow in order to lead a truly ethical life are a must read (chapter 9)...they are a lot more globally relevant than any other list of "commandments" I've seen. And anyone else that has suffered through The Secret and was insulted by every minute of it will appreciate the beginning of chapter 4.
October 10, 2015
I have personally been looking for a moral foundation broader than Secular Humanism. This book addresses that need by sketching a 'Natural Ethic' that rests on biological evolutionary reality. The issues of just what is "alive", of when homo sapiens became human, the commonalities of all animals on the living continuum, and behavior that can be derived from this analysis, make up the bulk of the work.
Since rejecting any external supernatural moral imperatives, a book like this begins to satisfy my existential itch. After all, what is more reasonable than using reality as a basis for morality, even if the human animal has to come down a peg or two. The world we live in is threatened by catastrophic climate change, and other moral systems just seems helpless to guide our thinking, let alone our survival.
Give this book a try. WARNING, you will take a tour down all the 'other major moral systems' out there, but it is worth the trip.
Since rejecting any external supernatural moral imperatives, a book like this begins to satisfy my existential itch. After all, what is more reasonable than using reality as a basis for morality, even if the human animal has to come down a peg or two. The world we live in is threatened by catastrophic climate change, and other moral systems just seems helpless to guide our thinking, let alone our survival.
Give this book a try. WARNING, you will take a tour down all the 'other major moral systems' out there, but it is worth the trip.
January 22, 2010
Great book. Nothing really novel to me, it was one of those books that is like a tour of my mind and codifies a lot of my own thought processes into something far more tangible than words I could have used.
September 24, 2014
Nice piece of work...I know Giuseppe Notarbartolo, the co-author, and I was pleased to see his sense of humour and life view coming through. It was like having an extended conversation with him but nicely put together with Jeff's arguments as well. A book to dip back into and come back to....
August 29, 2012
This book makes you think about where we come from as a species, and why we think we're so special. How do we come to morals and society? Hint: we don't need to rely on a god to tell us right from wrong - it's part of our evolution.
September 6, 2010
Pretty decent book. A little slow paced and tedious in the first chapters. Last two chapters really bring the whole thing in nicely.
November 22, 2010
Very informative but I felt like it fell apart in the last chapter.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews