# Sam Harris

> American author, philosopher and neuroscientist (born 1967)

**Wikidata**: [Q296047](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296047)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Harris)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sam-harris

## Summary
Sam Harris is an American author, philosopher, and neuroscientist born in 1967 who gained prominence for his criticism of religion and advocacy for science-based approaches to morality and consciousness. He is best known for his books "The End of Faith," "Letter to a Christian Nation," and "The Moral Landscape," as well as founding the Waking Up meditation app and Project Reason foundation.

## Biography
- Born: April 9, 1967
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles
- Known for: Criticism of religion, neuroscience research, meditation app development, and popular science writing
- Employer(s): Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles
- Field(s): Philosophy, neuroscience, ethics, meditation, criticism of religion, popular science literature, mindfulness

## Contributions
Sam Harris authored "The End of Faith" in 2004, which became a significant work in criticism of religion and launched his career as a public intellectual. He wrote "Letter to a Christian Nation" as a follow-up book expanding his religious criticism. His essay "The Moral Landscape" explored ethics through a scientific lens, arguing that moral questions have empirical answers. Harris founded the Waking Up meditation app in 2018, combining his interests in neuroscience and contemplative practices. He established Project Reason in 2007, an American foundation promoting scientific knowledge and secular values. Harris has also built a significant platform as a podcaster, blogger, and writer, reaching wide audiences through popular science literature and online content.

## FAQs
### What are Sam Harris's main areas of expertise?
Sam Harris is an expert in philosophy, neuroscience, ethics, and meditation practices. He combines these fields to explore consciousness, morality, and the intersection of science and spirituality.

### What books has Sam Harris written?
Sam Harris authored several influential books including "The End of Faith" (2004), "Letter to a Christian Nation," and "The Moral Landscape." These works established him as a prominent critic of religion and advocate for science-based ethics.

### What is the Waking Up app?
The Waking Up app is a meditation application founded by Sam Harris in 2018. It combines neuroscience-based approaches with contemplative practices to teach mindfulness and awareness.

### What is Project Reason?
Project Reason is an American foundation established in 2007 that promotes scientific knowledge and secular values. Sam Harris founded this organization to advance rational thinking and evidence-based approaches to societal issues.

### Where did Sam Harris receive his education?
Sam Harris was educated at Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles. These institutions provided the academic foundation for his work in neuroscience and philosophy.

### What fields does Sam Harris work in?
Sam Harris works across multiple fields including philosophy, neuroscience, ethics, criticism of religion, popular science literature, meditation, mindfulness, blogging, and podcasting.

## Why They Matter
Sam Harris fundamentally changed public discourse around religion, morality, and consciousness by bringing rigorous scientific and philosophical analysis to topics often treated as purely faith-based. His critique of religious belief through "The End of Faith" helped launch the "New Atheism" movement alongside Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, influencing millions to reconsider the role of religion in public and private life. Harris pioneered the integration of neuroscience with contemplative practices, demonstrating how ancient meditation techniques could be understood through modern brain science. His work on "The Moral Landscape" challenged traditional views of ethics by proposing that moral questions have empirical answers rooted in human well-being and neuroscience. Through the Waking Up app, he democratized access to meditation and mindfulness training, reaching audiences who might never engage with traditional spiritual teachings. Harris's influence extends to the "intellectual dark web," where he serves as a prominent voice challenging progressive orthodoxy in academia and media. His interdisciplinary approach bridging neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality has inspired a new generation of thinkers to pursue evidence-based approaches to consciousness and ethics.

## Notable For
- Authoring "The End of Faith" (2004), a landmark critique of religion that launched the New Atheism movement
- Writing "Letter to a Christian Nation" as a significant contribution to criticism of religion
- Publishing "The Moral Landscape" to advance science-based approaches to ethics and morality
- Founding the Waking Up meditation app in 2018 to bridge neuroscience and contemplative practices
- Establishing Project Reason in 2007 to promote scientific knowledge and secular values
- Being a prominent figure in the intellectual dark web challenging progressive identity politics
- Combining neuroscience expertise with philosophical inquiry to study consciousness
- Advancing mindfulness and meditation through popular science literature and digital platforms
- Bridging the gap between academic philosophy and public intellectualism
- Influencing public discourse on the intersection of science, religion, and morality

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Samuel Benjamin Harris was born on April 9, 1967, in the United States. He pursued higher education at two prestigious institutions: Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles. His educational background provided the foundation for his interdisciplinary work spanning philosophy, neuroscience, and contemplative practices.

### Academic Career and Affiliations
Harris has been affiliated with Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles, where he developed his expertise in neuroscience and philosophy. These academic connections established his credentials as both a researcher and thinker in multiple fields.

### Religious Criticism and Public Intellectualism
Harris rose to prominence with his 2004 essay "The End of Faith," which became a cornerstone work in contemporary criticism of religion. This publication positioned him as a leading figure in the "New Atheism" movement alongside other prominent critics of religious belief. He expanded on these themes in "Letter to a Christian Nation," further establishing his reputation as a vocal opponent of religious dogma in public life.

### Scientific Approach to Ethics and Morality
Through "The Moral Landscape," Harris attempted to ground ethics in scientific understanding, arguing that moral questions have empirical answers rooted in human well-being and neuroscience. This work challenged traditional philosophical approaches to ethics by proposing that science could determine human values and guide moral decision-making.

### Meditation and Consciousness Research
Harris founded the Waking Up meditation app in September 2018, representing his effort to bring scientific rigor to contemplative practices. This platform combined his neuroscience background with ancient meditation techniques, making mindfulness accessible to secular audiences. The app exemplifies his approach of integrating Eastern contemplative traditions with Western scientific methodology.

### Project Reason Foundation
In 2007, Harris established Project Reason, an American foundation dedicated to promoting scientific knowledge and secular values. This organization reflects his commitment to advancing rational thinking and evidence-based approaches to societal issues, extending his influence beyond individual publications to institutional change.

### Digital Platform and Media Presence
Harris has built a substantial media presence as a podcaster, blogger, and writer, reaching audiences through popular science literature and online content. His work spans multiple platforms, allowing him to disseminate his ideas about consciousness, morality, and rational thinking to broad audiences.

### Intellectual Dark Web Connection
Harris is associated with the intellectual dark web, a loosely defined group of public personalities who oppose progressive identity politics in media and academia. This connection highlights his role in contemporary cultural debates about free speech, academic freedom, and political correctness.

### Interdisciplinary Contributions
Throughout his career, Harris has worked across multiple fields including philosophy, neuroscience, ethics, criticism of religion, popular science literature, mindfulness, and meditation. His interdisciplinary approach has allowed him to address complex questions about consciousness, morality, and human nature from multiple angles simultaneously.

### Legacy and Influence
Harris's work has fundamentally altered public discourse around religion, consciousness, and ethics. His integration of neuroscience with contemplative practices has opened new avenues for understanding the human mind, while his criticism of religious belief has influenced millions to reconsider traditional faith-based worldviews. His ongoing work continues to bridge the gap between academic research and public intellectualism, making complex ideas accessible to general audiences.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Open Library
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. OPAC SBN
10. MusicBrainz
11. [Opinion | Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html)
12. Babelio
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. BBC Things
15. Google Knowledge Graph
16. [Source](http://www.samharris.org)
17. Goodreads
18. Quora
19. ADAGP directory
20. YouTube API
21. [Podchaser](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/sam-harris-107Zzj5f5G)
22. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/sam-harris-107Zzj5f5G/appearances)
23. The Movie Database