Adam is a Lecturer in Env. Sci. at Deakin Uni. He works on questions related to ecology, conservation & society. He is most interested in: i) how concern for Animals informs environmental values & practice, ii) the env. potential of transitioning to plant-based agri & iii) more critical approaches to how the sciences consider Animals. Adam wants to leverage research to help create a better future for Animals, the environment & humans.

In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the two most important questions: “what’s real?” & “what matters?”

Sentientism is "evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings." The video of our conversation is here on YouTube.

We discuss:

00:00 Welcome

01:57 Adam's Intro - "An animal person". Vegan activist, lecturer & scientist

- The idea that animals matter "took over"

03:16 What's Real?

- Catholic grandma, mother traumatised by Catholicism, non-religious father

- High-school: enthusiastic atheism & "an affinity with science"

- Uni: learning about the social history & context of religions

- "I'm a proper atheist... I just don't think there's anything there"

- "How I think about reality is grounded in natural science"

- Humility re: complex systems (e.g. social, envir)

- Scientism. Science might not have all of the answers

- Reading fantasy & sci-fi: "Religion is just another fantasy book"

- Religious friends. Talking about bible inconsistencies & faith & submission

- "Letting your thinking be done by others - I'm not into that"

- Scepticism "show me the evidence"

- The positives of religious community & connection

- Environment: "Why can't we love it for what it is rather than investing some sort of supernaturalness into it"

- Faith vs. evidence & reason

- Pseudoscience & "pretend naturalism"

- Conspiracy theories, woo & Goop

- "Pseudoscience tries to use the language of science to trick people"

- QAnon: "That stuff is batshit"

- Teaching science communication

- Flat Earth, Cults & "True Believers"

- The "Oh No Ross & Carrie" podcast https://ohnopodcast.com/

- "Religion is an accepted mass delusion"

- Heaven & hell: "It's a good way to control people"

33:40 What Matters?

- Social cohesion & relationships

- "Being good to the person next to you... not harming"

- Pluralism: virtues, deontology, utilitarianism, consequentialism

- Evolution of morality: from having young that need care

- "Survival of the most caring?"

- "I don't want to just propogate my genes any more - that's why I'm not down the sperm bank every day"

- "Ethicists & philosophers often talk shit"

- The frequent disregard of conservationists for sentients (e.g. culling)

...and much more. Full show notes at Sentientism.info.

Sentientism is “Evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” More at Sentientism.info. Join our "I'm a Sentientist" wall via this simple form.

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Thanks Graham.