One of the key claims of humanism is that science cannot answer ethical questions. Science can tell us how the world is, but it cannot tell us how it ought to be.

However, this distinction is not as clear-cut as it seems:

1. Science is not value-free. The questions we choose to ask, the methods we use, and the way we interpret results are all shaped by our cultural and moral assumptions.
2. Many ethical questions hinge on factual claims. For example, the debate around abortion often revolves around when a fetus becomes "human" - a biological question.
3. As we learn more about the biological basis of human behavior, the line between facts and values is likely to blur further. If we can explain moral choices in terms of brain chemistry, does that make them less "moral"?

Section: 1, Chapter: 3

Author: Yuval Noah Harari

So while science alone cannot determine human values, it can certainly inform and influence them. As powerful technologies like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering advance, we will need to grapple with the ethical implications of scientific progress.

This means fostering dialogue and collaboration between scientists, ethicists, policymakers, and the public. It means acknowledging the ways in which science and values intersect, rather than pretending they are separate. Most of all, it means using our growing knowledge to make wise choices - for ourselves, for society, and for the planet.

Section: 1, Chapter: 3

Author: Yuval Noah Harari