No. 8 in America · Week of November 9, 2026
Neuroscientist, philosopher and host, Making Sense
Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, philosopher and author who hosts the Making Sense podcast.
Photo: Cmichel67 (Christopher Michel), CC BY-SA 4.0
Score breakdown
Nine parts, measured fresh each week. This is where Sam Harris's points came from, and the evidence behind each one.
Debate record
Has met opponents in public debate for two decades, including William Lane Craig on morality in 2011 and Jordan Peterson in a series of live events in 2018.
Harris came to prominence as a critic of religion with The End of Faith in 2004, which spent 33 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.
He has hosted Making Sense since 2013 and founded the meditation app Waking Up.
On the record
2018
June and July 2018
Formal debate
Against Jordan Peterson · Live events in Vancouver, Dublin and London
Four nights on stage with the psychologist: two in Vancouver moderated by Bret Weinstein, then Dublin and London with Douglas Murray.
2018
April 2018
Broadcast debate
Against Ezra Klein · Waking Up podcast #123
Harris argued that criticism of his Charles Murray interview came from dishonesty rather than disagreement over the science; Klein challenged how such conversations should be had. Commentators split on who argued better.
2011
April 7, 2011
Formal debate
Against William Lane Craig · University of Notre Dame
Harris argued that objective moral truths need no supernatural foundation, against the Christian philosopher at the second annual God Debate.
Take a side: Are some actions wrong no matter the situation?
2010
March 23, 2010
Broadcast debate
Against Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston · ABC Nightline Face-Off
Harris and Michael Shermer opposed the motion on national television. Harris called Chopra's account of God as infinite potentiality unprincipled.
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