The philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah’s latest book, Captive Gods: Religion and the Rise of Social Science, is concerned with the origins of the social sciences. And what significance does the religious origins of the social sciences have for contemporary social thought? The Nation spoke with Appiah about the anti-secular stance of right-wing movements, the invention of sociology, and his new book. —Daniel Steinmetz-JenkinsDaniel Steinmetz-Jenkins: This book is principally concerned about the connection between religion and the rise of the social sciences. In this regard your book shows the vital role that religion played in early sociology, and in particular for resisting this tendency.