The Shape of Modern Evil: A Conversation with the Author

One of our long-time members, Daniel Reilly Jensen, has recently published a book, The Shape of Modern Evil: Why Questions Are Not Optional, on secular moral realism, exploring a question that feels both philosophical and very present in everyday life: is evil something real, or just a matter of opinion, culture, or perspective?

In the book, Daniel argues that evil is not merely a social construct or a subjective label, but something that exists independently of personal feelings, religious beliefs, or cultural norms. Drawing from moral philosophy rather than theology, he lays out why certain actions can meaningfully be called wrong in a deep, objective sense — even in a secular framework.

Daniel will join us at this event to talk about his book, walk us through the core arguments, and reflect on what it means to take moral realism seriously in a modern, pluralistic world. We’ll explore questions like: what does it mean to say something is truly evil? Can we ground morality without religion? And how does this way of thinking change how we relate to responsibility, justice, and compassion?

As always, the conversation will be open, thoughtful, and curious — no need to have read the book in advance, just bring your questions and your curiosity.

To support the restaurant, please either order at least $20 in food or drinks, or leave a $20 tip in the jar at the front desk. No outside food or drinks, please. Let’s create one loving world together during our meetup.