November 14, 2010

VIRTUE IN A GODLESS UNIVERSE. In this hour, Carole Hallundbaek interviews Dr. Erik Wielenberg, Associate Professor of Philosophy at DePauw University and author of the books "Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe" and "God and the Reach of Reason: C.S. Lewis, David Hume and Bertrand Russell." In this hour, Dr. Wielenberg shares his disagreement with the basic Judaic-Christian perspective that imposes moral law upon life while suggesting that life without God may be devoid of morality or meaning. Topics include: how a life without God continues to have meaning and moral obligations; Wielenberg's exploration of reality that embraces physical as well as value features; naturalism and the ethics of naturalism; naturalistic accounts of humility; charity and hope; his book "God and the Reach of Reason," in which C.S. Lewis, David Hume and Bertrand Russell have a 'conversation' with one another on topics such as the existence of God, suffering, morality, reason, joy, miracles and faith; the natural tendency to 'do the right thing;' the place of suffering and compassion in Buddhism; his own journey into atheism; and more.