Character Quote by Sam Harris
“The moral truth here is obvious: anyone who feels that the interests of a blastocyst just might supersede the interests of a child with a spinal cord injury has had his moral sense blinded by religious metaphysics.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moral Landscape, Sam Harris, 2010
Religious metaphysics can obscure moral judgment, especially when valuing early life over existing persons with severe injuries.
In simple terms: Religion can cloud moral clarity.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about moral value.
Themes
ethics
religion
disability rights
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- medical ethics
- advocacy
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
metaphysical bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance respect for belief with ethical clarity?
- What criteria should guide decisions about life‑saving resources?
A Different Perspective
Religious views may offer alternative moral frameworks.
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
