%0 PDF %T The Ethics of Disbelief: What Does New Atheism Mean for America? %A Sheren, Marysa E. %8 2005-06-20 %I Tufts Archival Research Center %R http://localhost/files/8g84mz85t %X Journalists have used the term "New Atheism" to describe a 21st-century movement spurred by the success of several non-fiction books. These books, authored by hard-line secularists and consumed by millions, have made a particularly large splash in the United States over the past five years, sparking a national public debate about God and religion. It is the goal of this thesis to (1) explore the unique ethical convictions of the New Atheists as expressed by their writings and (2) analyze the implications of the New Atheist movement for the American cultural and political ideals of equality, freedom and democracy. In this way, I will be interested in both the philosophical analysis of New Atheism as well as its socio-historical context and significance for Americans, especially women and minorities. On one hand, I am interested in the distinctive set of moral convictions and values implicit in New Atheist literature. On the other, I am interested in the compatibility or lack thereof of New Atheist ideals with the American vision of an equitable liberal democracy where public policy is both reflective of majority consensus and protective of individual freedoms. %[ 2022-10-07 %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution