We do wrong willfully when we fail to think hard about whether what we're doing is right.

I'm not one of these people who is sour about academia. I'm very lucky not to be in academia, but I am an absolute parasite. While I was writing my book on comparative philosophy I was drawing on some fantastic scholars - university based people. The academy is absolutely necessary, but there should also be a role for those bringing it together. It's such a frustration sometimes.

If we find it hard to believe that winning millions might not be so lucky after all, we just don't have a good enough imagination. If I fantasise about winning the lottery, it doesn't take long before all sorts of worrisome potential consequences occur to me.

Atheists should point out that life without God can be meaningful, moral and happy.

As a teenager, I increasingly had questions about religion to which I found no good answers.

Indeed, without emotion it seems unlikely we can even have morality.

It may not have the virtuous ring of the golden rule, but the maxim "never say never" is one of the most important in ethics.