Difference between revisions of "Humanism" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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: ''See also the specific [[life stance]] known as [[Humanism (life stance)|Humanism]]''
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: ''For the Renaissance liberal arts movement, see [[Renaissance humanism]]''
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{{Humanism}}
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'''Humanism'''<ref>
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{{Cite book
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|title = Compact Oxford English Dictionary
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|publisher = Oxford University Press
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|date = 2007
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|quote = humanism noun 1 a rationalistic system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. 2 a Renaissance cultural movement which turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought.
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|publicationyear = [[2007]]}}This article handles sense 1. See history section and main article [[Renaissance Humanism]] for sense 2.</ref>is a broad category of [[ethics|ethical philosophies]] that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine ''right and wrong'' by appeal to universal human qualities&mdash;particularly [[rationalism]]. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific [[philosophy|philosophical]] systems, and is incorporated into several religious schools of thought. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects the validity of transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on [[faith]], the [[supernatural]], or divinely revealed texts. Humanists endorse [[Moral universalism|universal morality]] based on the commonality of [[human nature]], suggesting that solutions to human social and cultural problems cannot be [[Parochialism|parochial]].<ref>
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{{Cite web
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|title = Definitions of humanism (subsection)
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|publisher = Institute for Humanist Studies
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|url = http://humaniststudies.org/humphil.html
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|accessmonthday = [[16 Jan]]
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|accessyear = [[2007]]}}</ref>
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==Aspects==
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=== Religion ===
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Humanism clearly rejects deference to supernatural beliefs in resolving human affairs, not necessarily the beliefs themselves, indeed some strains of humanism are compatible with some religions. It is generally compatible with atheism and agnosticism but doesn't ''require'' either of these. Agnosticism or atheism on their own do not necessarily entail humanism; many different and incompatible philosophies are atheistic in nature, and there is no one [[ideology]] or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.<ref>
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{{Cite book
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| last = Baggini
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| first = Julian
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| authorlink = Julian Baggini
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| title = Atheism: A Very Short Introduction
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| pages = 3&ndash;4
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| quote = The atheist's rejection of belief in God is usually accompanied by a broader rejection of any [[supernatural]] or [[transcendence (religion)|transcendental]] reality. For example, an atheist does not usually believe in the existence of immortal [[soul]]s, [[afterlife|life after death]], [[ghost]]s, or supernatural powers. Although strictly speaking an atheist could believe in any of these things and still remain an atheist... the arguments and ideas that sustain atheism tend naturally to rule out other beliefs in the supernatural or transcendental.
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| publisher = Oxford: Oxford University Press
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| year = 2003
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| id = ISBN 0-19-280424-3}}</ref><ref>
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{{Cite book
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| last = Winston
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| first = Robert (Ed.)
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| title = Human
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| pages = 299
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| quote = Neither atheism nor agnosticism is a full belief system, because they have no fundamental philosophy or lifestyle requirements. These forms of thought are simply the absence of belief in, or denial of, the existence of deities.
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| publisher = New York: DK Publishing, Inc
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| year = 2004
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| id = ISBN 0-7566-1901-7}}</ref>
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As humanism encompasses intellectual currents running through a wide variety of philosophical and religious thought, several strains of humanism allow it to fulfill or supplement the role of religions, and in particular to be embraced as a complete [[life stance]]. For more on this, see [[Humanism (life stance)]]. In a number of countries, rights given by laws to 'religions', have required a secular life stance to become legally recognized as a 'religion'.<ref>Note: The topic of this article has a small initial character as Wikipedia guidelines prescribe for the name of a philosophy. The ''life stance'' named Humanism is capitalized as prescribed for the name of a religion.</ref>
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[[Renaissance humanism]], and its emphasis on returning to the sources, contributed to the Protestant reformation by helping to gain what they believe was a more accurate translation of Biblical texts.
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=== Knowledge ===
 +
According to humanism, it is up to humans to find the truth, not wait for it to be handed to them through [[revelation]], [[mysticism]], [[tradition]], or anything else that is incompatible with the application of logic to the evidence. In demanding that humans avoid blindly accepting unsupported beliefs, it supports [[scientific skepticism]] and the [[scientific method]], rejecting [[authoritarianism]] and [[Philosophical skepticism|extreme skepticism]], and rendering [[faith]] an unacceptable basis for action. Likewise, humanism asserts that knowledge of right and wrong is based on one's best understanding of one's individual and joint interests, rather than stemming from a transcendental or arbitrarily local source.
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=== Speciesism ===
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Some have interpreted humanism to be a form of [[speciesism]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utilitarian.net/singer/by/200410—.htm |title=Taking Humanism Beyond Speciesism, by Peter Singer |author=[[Peter Singer]] |accessdate=2007-01-11}}</ref>, mostly because of the word itself. The term points out the focus on human affairs and concerns ''as opposed to those of gods'' and is not intended to be taken as opposed to other species, and does not imply that non-human species deserve no respect; individual humanists or humanist groups may hold any position regarding issues of [[animal rights]].
 +
 
 +
=== Optimism ===
 +
Humanism features an optimistic attitude about the capacity of people, but it does not involve believing that human nature is purely good or that each and every person is capable of living up to the humanist ideals of rationality and morality. If anything, there is the recognition that living up to one's potential is hard work and requires the help of others. The ultimate goal is [[eudaimonia|human flourishing]]; making life better for all humans. Even among humanists who do believe in some sort of an afterlife, the focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world better for those who come after, not on suffering through life to be rewarded afterward.
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 +
== History ==
 +
Contemporary humanism can be traced back through the [[Renaissance]] to its ancient Greek roots.
 +
 
 +
<!-- This would be a great place for a historically-minded reader to add a detailed timeline. Any volunteers? —>
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The evolution of the meaning of the word ''humanism'' is fully explored in [[Nicolas Walter]] ''Humanism — What's in the Word''. <ref>[[Nicolas Walter|Walter, Nicolas]], 1997 ''Humanism — What's in the Word'', [[Rationalist Press Association]], London, ISBN 0-301-97001-7.</ref>
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===Greek roots===
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{{main|Greek philosophy}}
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Sixth century B.C.E. pantheists [[Thales of Miletus]] and [[Xenophanes of Colophon]] prepared the way for later Greek humanist thought. Thales is credited with creating the maxim "Know thyself", and Xenophanes refused to recognize the gods of his time and reserved the divine for the principle of unity in the universe. Later [[Anaxagoras]], often described as the "first freethinker", contributed to the development of science as a method of understanding the universe. [[Pericles]], a pupil of Anaxagoras, influenced the development of democracy, freedom of thought, and the exposure of superstitions. Although little of their work survives, [[Protagoras]] and [[Democritus]] both espoused agnosticism and a spiritual morality not based on the supernatural. The historian [[Thucydides]] is noted for his scientific and rational approach to history.<ref>{{Cite book
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|last = Potter
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|first = Charles
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|authorlink = Charles Francis Potter
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|title = Humanism A new Religion
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| pages = 64&ndash;69
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|publisher = Simon and Schuster
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|date = 1930}}
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</ref>
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=== Renaissance ===
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{{main|Renaissance humanism}}
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Renaissance humanism was a broad movement that affected the social, cultural, literary and political landscape of [[Europe]]. Beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century, Renaissance humanism revived the study of Latin and Greek, with the resultant revival of the study of science, philosophy, art and poetry of classical antiquity. The revival was based on interpretations of Roman and Greek texts, whose emphasis upon art and the senses marked a great change from the contemplation on the Biblical values of humility, introspection, and meekness. Beauty was held to represent a deep inner virtue and value, and an essential element in the path towards God.
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The crisis of Renaissance humanism came with the trial of [[Galileo Galilei|Galileo]], which forced the choice between basing the authority of one's beliefs on one's observations, or upon religious teaching. The trial made the contradictions between humanism and traditional religion visibly apparent to all, and humanism was branded a "dangerous doctrine."
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Renaissance humanists believed that the [[liberal arts]] (music, art, grammar, rhetoric, oratory, history, poetry, using classical texts, and the studies of all of the above) should be practiced by all levels of wealth. They also approved of self, human worth and individual dignity.
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Noteworthy humanists scholars from this period include the Dutch theologist [[Desiderius Erasmus|Erasmus]], the English author [[Thomas More]], the French writer [[Francois Rabelais]], the Italian poet [[Francesco Petrarch]] and the Italian scholar [[Giovanni Pico della Mirandola]].
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=== Modern era ===
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One of the earliest forerunners of contemporary chartered humanist organizations was the Humanistic Religious Association formed in [[1853]] in London. This early group was democratically organized, with male and female members participating in the election of the leadership and promoted knowledge of the sciences, philosophy, and the arts.
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Active in the early 1920s, [[F.C.S. Schiller]] considered his work to be tied to the humanist movement. Schiller himself was influenced by the pragmatism of [[William James]]. In 1929 [[Charles Francis Potter]] founded the First Humanist Society of New York whose advisory board included [[Julian Huxley]], [[John Dewey]], [[Albert Einstein]] and [[Thomas Mann]]. Potter was a minister from the Unitarian tradition and in 1930 he and his wife, Clara Cook Potter, published ''[[Humanism: A New Religion]]''. Throughout the 1930s Potter was a well-known advocate of women’s rights, access to birth control, "civil divorce laws", and an end to capital punishment.
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[[Raymond B. Bragg]], the associate editor of ''The New Humanist'', sought to consolidate the input of L. M. Birkhead, Charles Francis Potter, and several members of the Western Unitarian Conference. Bragg asked [[Roy Wood Sellars]] to draft a document based on this information which resulted in the publication of the ''[[Humanist Manifesto]]'' in 1933. The Manifesto and Potter's book became the cornerstones of modern humanism. Both of these sources envision humanism as a religion.
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In 1941 the [[American Humanist Association]] was organized. Noted members of The AHA include [[Isaac Asimov]], who was the president before his death, and writer [[Kurt Vonnegut]], who is the current honorary president.
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== Modern humanist philosophies ==
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There are many people who consider themselves humanists, and much variety in the exact type of humanism to which they subscribe. There is some disagreement over terminology and definitions, with some people using narrower or broader interpretations. Not all people who call themselves humanists hold beliefs that are genuinely humanistic, and not all people who do hold humanistic beliefs apply the label of humanism to themselves.
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All of this aside, humanism can be divided into secular and religious types.
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=== Secular humanism ===
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[[Secular humanism]] is the branch of humanism that rejects theistic religious belief, and the existence of a supernatural. It is often associated with scientists and academics, though it is not at all limited to these groups. Secular humanists generally believe that following humanist principles leads to [[secularism]], on the basis that supernatural beliefs cannot be supported rationally and therefore all traditionally religiously associated activity must be rejected.
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When people speak of humanism in general, they are usually referring to secular humanism, as a default meaning. Some of the secular humanists take this even further by denying that religious humanists qualify as genuine humanists. Others feel that the ethical side of humanism transcends the issue of religion, because being a good person is more important than supernatural beliefs.
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Some secular humanists prefer the term ''[[Humanist (life stance)|Humanist]]'' (capital 'H', and no adjective), as unanimously endorsed by General Assembly of the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]] following universal endorsement of the [[Amsterdam Declaration 2002]].
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=== Religious humanism ===
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[[Religious humanism]] is the branch of humanism that considers itself religious (based on a functional definition of religion), or embraces some form of theism, deism, or supernaturalism, without necessarily being allied with organized religion; if allied, in the [[US]] it is often with [[Unitarian Universalism]], frequently associated with artists, liberal Christians, and scholars in the liberal arts. Also subscribers to a religion who do not hold such a necessary source for their moral values, may be considered religious humanists. The central position of human beings in humanist philosophy goes with a [[humane]] morality; the latter alone does not constitute humanism. A [[humanitarian]] who derives morality from religious grounds does not make a religious humanist.
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A number of religious humanists feel that secular humanism is too coldly logical and rejects the full emotional experience that makes humans human. From this comes the notion that secular humanism is inadequate in meeting the human need for a socially fulfilling philosophy of life. Disagreements over things of this nature have resulted in friction between secular and religious humanists, despite their similarities.
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== Other forms of humanism ==
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Humanism is also sometimes used to describe "humanities" scholars, (particularly scholars of the Greco-Roman classics). As mentioned above, it is sometimes used to mean humanitarianism. There is also a school of [[humanistic psychology]], and an educational method.
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=== Educational humanism ===
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Humanism, as a current in [[education]], began to dominate school systems in the 17th century. It held that the studies that develop human intellect are those that make humans "most truly human". The practical basis for this was [[faculty psychology]], or the belief in distinct intellectual faculties, such as the analytical, the mathematical, the linguistic, etc. Strengthening one faculty was believed to benefit other faculties as well (transfer of training). A key player in the late 19th-century educational humanism was U.S. Commissioner of Education W.T. Harris, whose "Five Windows of the Soul" ([[mathematics]], [[geography]], [[history]], [[grammar]], and [[literature]]/[[art]]) were believed especially appropriate for "development of the faculties". Educational humanists believe that "the best studies, for the best kids" are "the best studies" for all kids. While humanism as an educational current was largely discredited by the innovations of the early 20th century, it still holds out, in some elite preparatory schools and some high school disciplines (especially, in [[literature]]).
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== See also ==
 +
* [[List of basic humanism topics]]
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* [[List of humanists]]
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* [[:Category:Humanists]]
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===Manifestos and statements setting out humanist viewpoints ===
 +
* [[Humanist Manifesto]]
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* [[Amsterdam Declaration 2002]]
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* [[A Secular Humanist Declaration]]
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=== Forms of humanism ===
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:''See the humanism philosophy box at top on the right.''
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=== Related philosophies ===
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* [[Deism]]
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* [[Extropianism]]
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* [[Infinitism]]
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* [[Objectivity (philosophy)|Objectivism]]
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* [[Pragmatism]]
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* [[rationalist movement|Rationalism]]
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=== Organizations ===
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* [[Institute for Humanist Studies]]
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* [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]] (IHEU)
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* [[Rationalist International]]
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* [[Freethought Association]]
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* [[Council for Secular Humanism]]
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* [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]
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* [[American Humanist Association]]
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* [[British Humanist Association]]
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* [[Human-Etisk Forbund]], the Norwegian Humanist Association
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* [[Humanist Society of Scotland]]
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* [[Humanist Association of Ireland]]
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* [[Sidmennt]], the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association
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* [[Society for Humanistic Judaism]]
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* [[Humanist International]]
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* [[Humanist Movement]]
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* [[Humanist Party]]
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* [[Arnold P. Gold Foundation]], for the advancement of humanism in medicine
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''For more organizations see [[:Category:Humanist associations]]''
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=== Other ===
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* [[Antihumanism]]
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* [[Humanistic psychology]]
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* [[Social psychology]]
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* [[Religious freedom]] — freedom of religion ''and'' belief
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* [[Speciesism]]
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== References ==
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=== Notes ===
 +
<references />
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=== Bibliography ===
 +
*Petrosyan, M. 1972 ''Humanism: Its Philosophical, Ethical, and Sociological Aspects'', Progress Publishers, Moscow.
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== External links ==
 +
=== Manifestos and statements setting out humanist viewpoints===
 +
* [http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto1.html Humanist Manifesto I] (1933)
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* [http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto2.html Humanist Manifesto II] (1973)
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* [http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=declaration A Secular Humanist Declaration] (1980)
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* [http://www.iheu.org/amsterdamdeclaration Amsterdam Declaration] (2002)
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* [http://www.americanhumanist.org/3/HumandItsAspirations.php Humanist Manifesto III] (2003)
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=== Introductions to humanism ===
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* [http://www.jcn.com/humanism.html ''What Is Humanism?''] from the [[American Humanist Association]]
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* [http://MHEC.humanists.net/HUMNISM.HTM Humanism: Why, What, and What For, In 882 Words]
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* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/humanism-civic/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Civic Humanism]
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* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07538b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia article on Renaissance Humanism]
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===Organizations===
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*International
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** [http://www.centerforinquiry.net Center for Inquiry International]
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** [http://www.rationalistinternational.net Rationalist International]
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** [http://www.iheu.org International Humanist and Ethical Union]
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** [http://www.iheyo.org/ International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation]
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*Europe
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** [http://www.humanism.org.uk British Humanist Association]
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** [http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk Humanist Society of Scotland]
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** [http://www.galha.org UK Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association]
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** [http://www.humanisteurope.org/ Humanist Movement — Europe]
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** [http://www.neuer-humanismus.de/ Humanist Movement — German]
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** [http://www.humanistischverbond.nl/ Humanist Movement — The Netherlands]
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** [http://nireland.humanists.net/ Humanist Association of N. Ireland]
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** [http://www.irish-humanists.org/ Humanist Association of Ireland]
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** [http://www.umanisti.it/ Humanist Movement — Italy]
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** [http://www.humanist-net.org Humanist n.e.t. — German/ English]
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** [http://www.human.no/ Norwegian Humanist Association]
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** [http://www.humanisterna.se/ Swedish Humanist Association]
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** [http://www.humanism.ro Romanian association Solidarity for Freedom of Conscience — Romanian/ English]
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** [http://humanismo.zip.net Virtual Sociedade Humanista Mineira]
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*North America
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** [http://www.americanhumanist.org/ American Humanist Association]
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** [http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/ The Church of Spiritual Humanism]
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** [http://www.huumanists.org/ HUUmanists, Unitarian Universalist publishers of the journal ''Religious Humanism'']
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** [http://canada.humanists.net Humanist Association of Canada]
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** [http://www.humanistcenterofcultures.org/wiki/wiki.cgi Chicago humanist wiki pages]
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** [http://www.humaniststudies.org/ Institute for Humanist Studies]
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** [http://mb.humanists.ca Humanist Association of Manitoba]
 +
** [http://kwcg.humanists.net/CMS/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=170 Society of Ontario Freethinkers]
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** [http://www.HFSD.info/ The Humanist Fellowship of San Diego]
 +
** [http://www.secularhumanism.org Council for Secular Humanism]
 +
** [http://www.freethoughtassociation.org/ Freethought Association of West Michigan]
 +
 
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=== Web articles ===
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* [http://www.newhumanist.org.uk/ ''New Humanist''] British magazine from the Rationalist Press Association (RPA)
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* [http://www.TheSystemHasYou.com/ Nanovirus — A humanist perspective on politics, technology and culture]
 +
* [http://www.modernhumanist.com/ ''Modern Humanist''] An Online Journal for Modern Humanism, Humanist Philosophy & Life
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=== Web books ===
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* [http://myweb.dal.ca/kernohan/godless  A Guide for the Godless: The Secular Path to Meaning]
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* [http://www.humanisteurope.org/ European Region of the Humanist International]
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* [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Thinking_And_Moral_Problems Thinking And Moral Problems], [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Religions_And_Their_Source Religions And Their Source], [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Purpose Purpose], and [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Developing_A_Universal_Religion Developing A Universal Religion], four Parts of a Wikibook.
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{{Philosophy navigation}}
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[[Category:Art movements]]
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[[Category:Epistemology]]
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[[Category:Renaissance]]
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[[Category:Humanism|*]]
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[[Category:Freethought]]
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[[ar:إنسانية]]
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[[bg:Хуманизъм]]
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{{Credit|107704225}}

Revision as of 18:39, 13 February 2007

See also the specific life stance known as Humanism
For the Renaissance liberal arts movement, see Renaissance humanism
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Part of Philosophy series on
Humanism
(humanist philosophies)
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International Humanist
and Ethical Union (IHEU)

Secular humanism

Humanism (life stance)
American Humanist Association
Council for Secular Humanism
A Secular Humanist Declaration

Religious humanism

Christian humanism
Ethical Culture
Humanistic Buddhism
Humanistic Judaism
Integral humanism

Related articles

Posthumanism
Neo-humanism
Incarnational humanism
Marxist humanism
List of humanists

History of humanism

Renaissance humanism
Humanism in Germany
Humanism in France
Humanist Manifesto

Philosophy Portal ·

Humanism[1]is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities—particularly rationalism. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems, and is incorporated into several religious schools of thought. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects the validity of transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on faith, the supernatural, or divinely revealed texts. Humanists endorse universal morality based on the commonality of human nature, suggesting that solutions to human social and cultural problems cannot be parochial.[2]

Aspects

Religion

Humanism clearly rejects deference to supernatural beliefs in resolving human affairs, not necessarily the beliefs themselves, indeed some strains of humanism are compatible with some religions. It is generally compatible with atheism and agnosticism but doesn't require either of these. Agnosticism or atheism on their own do not necessarily entail humanism; many different and incompatible philosophies are atheistic in nature, and there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.[3][4]

As humanism encompasses intellectual currents running through a wide variety of philosophical and religious thought, several strains of humanism allow it to fulfill or supplement the role of religions, and in particular to be embraced as a complete life stance. For more on this, see Humanism (life stance). In a number of countries, rights given by laws to 'religions', have required a secular life stance to become legally recognized as a 'religion'.[5]

Renaissance humanism, and its emphasis on returning to the sources, contributed to the Protestant reformation by helping to gain what they believe was a more accurate translation of Biblical texts.

Knowledge

According to humanism, it is up to humans to find the truth, not wait for it to be handed to them through revelation, mysticism, tradition, or anything else that is incompatible with the application of logic to the evidence. In demanding that humans avoid blindly accepting unsupported beliefs, it supports scientific skepticism and the scientific method, rejecting authoritarianism and extreme skepticism, and rendering faith an unacceptable basis for action. Likewise, humanism asserts that knowledge of right and wrong is based on one's best understanding of one's individual and joint interests, rather than stemming from a transcendental or arbitrarily local source.

Speciesism

Some have interpreted humanism to be a form of speciesism[6], mostly because of the word itself. The term points out the focus on human affairs and concerns as opposed to those of gods and is not intended to be taken as opposed to other species, and does not imply that non-human species deserve no respect; individual humanists or humanist groups may hold any position regarding issues of animal rights.

Optimism

Humanism features an optimistic attitude about the capacity of people, but it does not involve believing that human nature is purely good or that each and every person is capable of living up to the humanist ideals of rationality and morality. If anything, there is the recognition that living up to one's potential is hard work and requires the help of others. The ultimate goal is human flourishing; making life better for all humans. Even among humanists who do believe in some sort of an afterlife, the focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world better for those who come after, not on suffering through life to be rewarded afterward.

History

Contemporary humanism can be traced back through the Renaissance to its ancient Greek roots.

The evolution of the meaning of the word humanism is fully explored in Nicolas Walter Humanism — What's in the Word. [7]

Greek roots

Main article: Greek philosophy

Sixth century B.C.E. pantheists Thales of Miletus and Xenophanes of Colophon prepared the way for later Greek humanist thought. Thales is credited with creating the maxim "Know thyself", and Xenophanes refused to recognize the gods of his time and reserved the divine for the principle of unity in the universe. Later Anaxagoras, often described as the "first freethinker", contributed to the development of science as a method of understanding the universe. Pericles, a pupil of Anaxagoras, influenced the development of democracy, freedom of thought, and the exposure of superstitions. Although little of their work survives, Protagoras and Democritus both espoused agnosticism and a spiritual morality not based on the supernatural. The historian Thucydides is noted for his scientific and rational approach to history.[8]

Renaissance

Renaissance humanism was a broad movement that affected the social, cultural, literary and political landscape of Europe. Beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century, Renaissance humanism revived the study of Latin and Greek, with the resultant revival of the study of science, philosophy, art and poetry of classical antiquity. The revival was based on interpretations of Roman and Greek texts, whose emphasis upon art and the senses marked a great change from the contemplation on the Biblical values of humility, introspection, and meekness. Beauty was held to represent a deep inner virtue and value, and an essential element in the path towards God.

The crisis of Renaissance humanism came with the trial of Galileo, which forced the choice between basing the authority of one's beliefs on one's observations, or upon religious teaching. The trial made the contradictions between humanism and traditional religion visibly apparent to all, and humanism was branded a "dangerous doctrine."

Renaissance humanists believed that the liberal arts (music, art, grammar, rhetoric, oratory, history, poetry, using classical texts, and the studies of all of the above) should be practiced by all levels of wealth. They also approved of self, human worth and individual dignity.

Noteworthy humanists scholars from this period include the Dutch theologist Erasmus, the English author Thomas More, the French writer Francois Rabelais, the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch and the Italian scholar Giovanni Pico della Mirandola.

Modern era

One of the earliest forerunners of contemporary chartered humanist organizations was the Humanistic Religious Association formed in 1853 in London. This early group was democratically organized, with male and female members participating in the election of the leadership and promoted knowledge of the sciences, philosophy, and the arts.

Active in the early 1920s, F.C.S. Schiller considered his work to be tied to the humanist movement. Schiller himself was influenced by the pragmatism of William James. In 1929 Charles Francis Potter founded the First Humanist Society of New York whose advisory board included Julian Huxley, John Dewey, Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann. Potter was a minister from the Unitarian tradition and in 1930 he and his wife, Clara Cook Potter, published Humanism: A New Religion. Throughout the 1930s Potter was a well-known advocate of women’s rights, access to birth control, "civil divorce laws", and an end to capital punishment.

Raymond B. Bragg, the associate editor of The New Humanist, sought to consolidate the input of L. M. Birkhead, Charles Francis Potter, and several members of the Western Unitarian Conference. Bragg asked Roy Wood Sellars to draft a document based on this information which resulted in the publication of the Humanist Manifesto in 1933. The Manifesto and Potter's book became the cornerstones of modern humanism. Both of these sources envision humanism as a religion.

In 1941 the American Humanist Association was organized. Noted members of The AHA include Isaac Asimov, who was the president before his death, and writer Kurt Vonnegut, who is the current honorary president.

Modern humanist philosophies

There are many people who consider themselves humanists, and much variety in the exact type of humanism to which they subscribe. There is some disagreement over terminology and definitions, with some people using narrower or broader interpretations. Not all people who call themselves humanists hold beliefs that are genuinely humanistic, and not all people who do hold humanistic beliefs apply the label of humanism to themselves.

All of this aside, humanism can be divided into secular and religious types.

Secular humanism

Secular humanism is the branch of humanism that rejects theistic religious belief, and the existence of a supernatural. It is often associated with scientists and academics, though it is not at all limited to these groups. Secular humanists generally believe that following humanist principles leads to secularism, on the basis that supernatural beliefs cannot be supported rationally and therefore all traditionally religiously associated activity must be rejected.

When people speak of humanism in general, they are usually referring to secular humanism, as a default meaning. Some of the secular humanists take this even further by denying that religious humanists qualify as genuine humanists. Others feel that the ethical side of humanism transcends the issue of religion, because being a good person is more important than supernatural beliefs.

Some secular humanists prefer the term Humanist (capital 'H', and no adjective), as unanimously endorsed by General Assembly of the International Humanist and Ethical Union following universal endorsement of the Amsterdam Declaration 2002.

Religious humanism

Religious humanism is the branch of humanism that considers itself religious (based on a functional definition of religion), or embraces some form of theism, deism, or supernaturalism, without necessarily being allied with organized religion; if allied, in the US it is often with Unitarian Universalism, frequently associated with artists, liberal Christians, and scholars in the liberal arts. Also subscribers to a religion who do not hold such a necessary source for their moral values, may be considered religious humanists. The central position of human beings in humanist philosophy goes with a humane morality; the latter alone does not constitute humanism. A humanitarian who derives morality from religious grounds does not make a religious humanist.

A number of religious humanists feel that secular humanism is too coldly logical and rejects the full emotional experience that makes humans human. From this comes the notion that secular humanism is inadequate in meeting the human need for a socially fulfilling philosophy of life. Disagreements over things of this nature have resulted in friction between secular and religious humanists, despite their similarities.

Other forms of humanism

Humanism is also sometimes used to describe "humanities" scholars, (particularly scholars of the Greco-Roman classics). As mentioned above, it is sometimes used to mean humanitarianism. There is also a school of humanistic psychology, and an educational method.

Educational humanism

Humanism, as a current in education, began to dominate school systems in the 17th century. It held that the studies that develop human intellect are those that make humans "most truly human". The practical basis for this was faculty psychology, or the belief in distinct intellectual faculties, such as the analytical, the mathematical, the linguistic, etc. Strengthening one faculty was believed to benefit other faculties as well (transfer of training). A key player in the late 19th-century educational humanism was U.S. Commissioner of Education W.T. Harris, whose "Five Windows of the Soul" (mathematics, geography, history, grammar, and literature/art) were believed especially appropriate for "development of the faculties". Educational humanists believe that "the best studies, for the best kids" are "the best studies" for all kids. While humanism as an educational current was largely discredited by the innovations of the early 20th century, it still holds out, in some elite preparatory schools and some high school disciplines (especially, in literature).

See also

  • List of basic humanism topics
  • List of humanists
  • Category:Humanists

Manifestos and statements setting out humanist viewpoints

  • Humanist Manifesto
  • Amsterdam Declaration 2002
  • A Secular Humanist Declaration

Forms of humanism

See the humanism philosophy box at top on the right.

Related philosophies

Organizations

  • Institute for Humanist Studies
  • International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU)
  • Rationalist International
  • Freethought Association
  • Council for Secular Humanism
  • International Humanist and Ethical Union
  • American Humanist Association
  • British Humanist Association
  • Human-Etisk Forbund, the Norwegian Humanist Association
  • Humanist Society of Scotland
  • Humanist Association of Ireland
  • Sidmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association
  • Society for Humanistic Judaism
  • Humanist International
  • Humanist Movement
  • Humanist Party
  • Arnold P. Gold Foundation, for the advancement of humanism in medicine

For more organizations see Category:Humanist associations

Other

References
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Notes

  1. ↑ (2007) Compact Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. “humanism noun 1 a rationalistic system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. 2 a Renaissance cultural movement which turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought.” This article handles sense 1. See history section and main article Renaissance Humanism for sense 2.
  2. ↑ Definitions of humanism (subsection). Institute for Humanist Studies. Retrieved 16 Jan, 2007.
  3. ↑ Baggini, Julian (2003). Atheism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 3–4. ISBN 0-19-280424-3. “The atheist's rejection of belief in God is usually accompanied by a broader rejection of any supernatural or transcendental reality. For example, an atheist does not usually believe in the existence of immortal souls, life after death, ghosts, or supernatural powers. Although strictly speaking an atheist could believe in any of these things and still remain an atheist... the arguments and ideas that sustain atheism tend naturally to rule out other beliefs in the supernatural or transcendental.” 
  4. ↑ Winston, Robert (Ed.) (2004). Human. New York: DK Publishing, Inc, 299. ISBN 0-7566-1901-7. “Neither atheism nor agnosticism is a full belief system, because they have no fundamental philosophy or lifestyle requirements. These forms of thought are simply the absence of belief in, or denial of, the existence of deities.” 
  5. ↑ Note: The topic of this article has a small initial character as Wikipedia guidelines prescribe for the name of a philosophy. The life stance named Humanism is capitalized as prescribed for the name of a religion.
  6. ↑ Peter Singer. Taking Humanism Beyond Speciesism, by Peter Singer. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
  7. ↑ Walter, Nicolas, 1997 Humanism — What's in the Word, Rationalist Press Association, London, ISBN 0-301-97001-7.
  8. ↑ Potter, Charles (1930). Humanism A new Religion. Simon and Schuster, 64–69. 

Bibliography

  • Petrosyan, M. 1972 Humanism: Its Philosophical, Ethical, and Sociological Aspects, Progress Publishers, Moscow.

External links

Manifestos and statements setting out humanist viewpoints

Introductions to humanism

Organizations

Web articles

Web books


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