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Humanism (humanist philosophies)

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Humanism (life stance)

International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) American Humanist Association Amsterdam Declaration British Humanist Association National Secular Society

Secular humanism

Council for Secular Humanism A Secular Humanist Declaration

Religious humanism

Christian humanism Humanistic Buddhism Humanistic Judaism

Related articles

Ethical Culture Integral humanism Marxist humanism Posthumanism List of humanists

History of humanism

Renaissance humanism Humanism in Germany Humanism in France Humanist Manifesto

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Humanism 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 rationality. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language This article discusses the symbol of a major non-theistic Humanist organisation See also philosophical Humanism For the Renaissance liberal arts movement see Renaissance humanism Humanism is This article discusses the non-theistic Life stance of a major Humanist organisation The American Humanist Association (AHA is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. The Amsterdam Declaration 2002 is a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism passed unanimously by the General Assembly of the International Humanist and The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism. The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation which promotes Secularism, the separation of Church and State to make society fair for everyone Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds Reason, Ethics and Justice, and specifically rejects the Supernatural The Council for Secular Humanism (originally the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism, or CODESH) is a secular humanist organization headquartered A Secular Humanist Declaration was an argument for and statement of Belief in democratic Secular Humanism. Religious humanism is an integration of religious Rituals and/or beliefs with humanistic philosophy that centers on Human needs interests and Christian Humanism is the belief that human freedom and individualism are intrinsic (natural parts of or are at least compatible with Christian doctrine and practice Humanistic Buddhism ( is a modern Buddhist Philosophy practiced mostly by Mahayana Buddhists. Humanistic Judaism is a movement within Judaism that emphasizes Jewish culture and history—rather than belief in God—as the sources of Jewish identity Ethical Culture is a nontheistic Religion established by Felix Adler in 1876 Integral humanism is the Political philosophy practised by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the former Bharatiya Jana Sangh of India. Marxist humanism is a branch of Marxism that primarily focuses on Marx's earlier writings, especially the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts In literary and Critical theory, posthumanism or post-humanism, meaning beyond humanism, is a major European Continental philosophy This is a partial list of famous humanists, including both secular and religious humanists. Renaissance Humanism was a European intellectual movement beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century Humanistic studies were late in finding entrance into Germany. Humanism in France found its way from Italy, but did not become a distinct movement until the 16th century was well on its way Humanist Manifesto is the title of three Manifestos laying out a Humanist worldview Ethics is a major branch of Philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life In Epistemology and in its broadest sense rationalism is "any view appealing to Reason as a source of knowledge or justification" (Lacey 286 ^[1][2] It is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems and is incorporated into several religious schools of thought. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language 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 belief without reason, the supernatural, or texts of allegedly divine origin. Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Humanists endorse universal morality based on the commonality of the human condition, suggesting that solutions to human social and cultural problems cannot be parochial. Moral universalism (or universal morality) is the meta-ethical position that some system of ethics or a universal ethic applies universally, that The human condition encompasses all of the Experience of being Human. Parochialism means being provincial being narrow in scope or considering only small sections of an issue ^[3]

Contents 1 Aspects 1.1 Religion 1.2 Knowledge 1.3 Speciesism 1.4 Optimism 2 History 2.1 Greek humanism 2.2 Islamic humanism 2.3 Renaissance humanism 2.4 Modern era 3 Modern humanist philosophies 3.1 Secular humanism 3.2 Religious humanism 4 Other forms of humanism 4.1 Educational humanism 5 See also 5.1 Manifestos and statements setting out Humanist viewpoints 5.2 Forms of humanism 5.3 Related philosophies 5.4 Organizations 5.5 Other 6 References 6.1 Notes 6.2 Bibliography 7 External links 7.1 Manifestos and statements setting out humanist viewpoints 7.2 Introductions to humanism 7.3 Web articles 7.4 Web books

Aspects

Religion

Humanism clearly rejects deference to supernatural beliefs in resolving human affairs but 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. Atheism Agnosticism ( Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the The word "ignostic" (American) or "indifferentist" (British, including OED) are sometimes applied to Humanism, on the grounds that Humanism is an ethical process, not a dogma about the existence or otherwise of gods; Humanists simply have no need to be concerned with such questions. Agnosticism or atheism on their own do not necessarily entail Humanism; many different and sometimes incompatible philosophies happen to be atheistic in nature. There is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere, and not all are humanistic. An ideology is a set of beliefs aims and Ideas especially in politics ^[4][5]

As Humanism encompasses intellectual currents running through a wide variety of philosophical and religious thought, several strains of Humanism allow it to fulfill, supplement or supplant the role of religions, and in particular, to be embraced as a complete life stance. Life stance or lifestance refers to a person's relation with what he or she accepts as of Ultimate importance, the presuppositions and theory of this and the commitments For more on this, see Humanism (life stance). See also philosophical Humanism For the Renaissance liberal arts movement see Renaissance humanism Humanism is In a number of countries, for the purpose of laws that give rights to "religions", the secular life stance has become legally recognized as equivalent to a "religion" for this purpose. ^[6] In the United States, the Supreme Court recognized that Humanism is equivalent to a religion in the limited sense of authorizing Humanists to conduct ceremonies commonly carried out by officers of religious bodies. The relevant passage is in a footnote to Torcaso v. Watkins (1961). Torcaso v Watkins, was a United States Supreme Court case in which the court reaffirmed that the US Constitution prohibits States and the Federal Government It is often alleged by fundamentalist critics of Humanism that the Supreme Court "declared Humanism to be a religion," however the Court's statement, a mere footnote at most, clearly does not in fact do so; it simply asserts an equivalency of Humanists' right to act in ways usual to a religion, such as ceremonial recognition of life's landmarks.

Renaissance humanism, and its emphasis on returning to the sources, contributed to the Protestant reformation by helping to gain what Protestants believe was a more accurate translation of Biblical texts. Renaissance Humanism was a European intellectual movement beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century

Knowledge

According to Humanism, it is up to humans to find the truth, as opposed to seeking it through revelation, mysticism, tradition, or anything else that is incompatible with the application of logic to the observable evidence. Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem acc of traditio which means "a giving up delivering up surrendering" and is used in a number of 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. Scientific skepticism or rational skepticism ( also spelled scepticism) sometimes referred to as skeptical inquiry, is a scientific or practical Scientific method refers to bodies of Techniques for investigating phenomena Authoritarianism describes a Form of government characterized by an emphasis on the Authority of the State in a republic or union For a general discussion of skepticism see Skepticism. Philosophical skepticism (from Greek σκέψις - skepsis meaning Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in Likewise, Humanism asserts that knowledge of right and wrong is based on the best understanding of one's individual and joint interests, rather than stemming from a transcendental truth or an arbitrarily local source. ^[7]

Speciesism

Some have interpreted Humanism to be a form of speciesism, regarding humans as being more important than other species. Speciesism involves assigning different values or rights to beings on the basis of their Species membership The philosopher Peter Singer, himself a Humanist, stated that "despite many individual exceptions, Humanists have, on the whole, been unable to free themselves from one of the most central. Peter Albert David Singer (born July 6, 1946 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian philosopher. . . Christian dogmas: the prejudice of speciesism". ^[8] He called on Humanists to "take a stand against. . . ruthless exploitation of other sentient beings", and took issue with statements in the Humanist Manifesto II, which he felt gave "precedence to the interests of members of our own species. The second manifesto was written in 1973 by Paul Kurtz and Edwin H "^[8] He also noted, however, that the same Manifesto stated that humans have "no God-given or inherent right to subdue other animals", and acknowledged that "the organizations that have done the most for animals have been independent of religion. "^[8]

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, and as the most conscious species, also promoting concern for the welfare of other sentient beings. Eudaimonia ( Greek:) is a classical Greek word commonly translated as ' Happiness ' The focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world better for those who come after.

History

Contemporary humanism can be traced back through the Renaissance back to the Islamic Golden Age to its ancient Greek roots. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Humanism can also be traced back to the time of Gautama Buddha (563-483 BCE) and Confucius (551–479 BCE) and the Warring States Period, though the term "humanism" is more widely associated with Western philosophers. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Events and trends 568 BC — Amtalqa succeeds his brother Aspelta as king of Kush. Events By place Persian empire Xerxes I of Persia is encouraged by his cousin and brother-in-law Confucius ( lit " Master Kung " September 28, 551 BC - 479 BC) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher Events and trends Carthage conquers Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. Events By place Greece The Persian commander Mardonius, now based in Thessaly, wins support The Warring States Period ( also known as the Era of Warring States covers the period from some time in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the

The term "humanism" was coined in 1808, based on the 15th century Italian term umanista, which was used to designate a teacher or student of classic literature. The evolution of the meaning of the word humanism is fully explored in Nicolas Walter's Humanism — What's in the Word. Nicolas Hardy Walter ( 22 November 1934 &ndash 7 March 2000) was a British anarchist and atheist writer speaker and activist ^[9]

Greek humanism

Main article: Greek philosophy

Sixth century BCE pantheists Thales of Miletus and Xenophanes of Colophon prepared the way for later Greek humanist thought. Ancient Greek philosophy focused on the role of Reason and Inquiry. The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC. Thales of Miletus According to Bertrand Russell, "Philosophy begins with Thales Xenophanes of Colophon ( Greek ( 570 – 480 BC was a Greek Philosopher, Poet, and social and religious Critic. 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. Anaxagoras ( Greek: Ἀναξαγόρας c 500 BC &ndash 428 BC was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher famous for introducing the Cosmological Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that Beliefs should be formed on the basis of Science and Logic and should not be influenced These Ionian Greeks were the first thinkers to recognize that nature is available to be studied separately from any alleged supernatural realm. Pericles, a pupil of Anaxagoras, influenced the development of democracy, freedom of thought, and the exposure of superstitions. Pericles (also spelled Perikles) (c 495 – 429 BC Greek:, meaning "surrounded by glory" was a prominent and influential Statesman, orator Although little of their work survives, Protagoras and Democritus both espoused agnosticism and a spiritual morality not based on the supernatural. Protagoras ( Greek:) (ca 490&ndash 420 BC was a pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher and is numbered as one of the Sophists by Democritus ( Greek:) was a pre-Socratic Greek Materialist Philosopher (born at Abdera in Thrace ca The historian Thucydides is noted for his scientific and rational approach to history. Thucydides ( C 460 BC &ndash C 395 BC) ( Greek Θουκυδίδης Thoukydídēs) was a Greek ^[10]

Islamic humanism

Main article: Islamic ethics

Many medieval Muslim thinkers pursued humanistic, rational and scientific discourses in their search for knowledge, meaning and values. Islamic ethics ( akhlāq) defined as "good character" historically took shape gradually from the 7th century and was finally established by the 11th Early Islamic philosophy or classical Islamic philosophy is a period of intense philosophical development beginning in the 2nd century AH of the Islamic calendar Humanism 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 appealing to universal In Epistemology and in its broadest sense rationalism is "any view appealing to Reason as a source of knowledge or justification" (Lacey 286 Discourse (L discursus, "running to and from" means either "written or spoken communication or debate" or "a formal discussion Knowledge is defined ( Oxford English Dictionary) variously as (i expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education the theoretical or practical understanding A personal and cultural value is a Relative ethic value, an assumption upon which implementation can be extrapolated A wide range of Islamic writings on love poetry, history and philosophical theology show that medieval Islamic thought was open to the humanistic ideas of individualism, occasional secularism, skepticism and liberalism. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology Philosophical theology is the disciplined employment of philosophical methods in developing or analyzing theological concepts Secularism is generally the assertion that governmental practices or institutions should exist separately from Religion or religious beliefs In ordinary usage skepticism or scepticism ( Greek 'σκέπτομαι' skeptomai, to look about to consider see also spelling differences Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal ^[11] Certain aspects of Renaissance humanism has its roots in the medieval Islamic world, including the "art of dictation, called in Latin, ars dictaminis," and "the humanist attitude toward classical language. Renaissance Humanism was a European intellectual movement beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century "Dictée" redirects here For the book by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha see Dictee. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The ars dictaminis was the medieval description of the art of prose composition and more specifically of the writing of letters ( dictamen) A classical language, is a language with a Literature that is "classical"&mdashie "it should be ancient it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly "^[12]

Renaissance humanism

Main article: Renaissance humanism

Renaissance humanism was a movement that affected the cultural, political, social, and literary landscape of Europe. Renaissance Humanism was a European intellectual movement beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century 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. (see Burckhard The Civilisation of the Renaissance in Italy) 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.

Humanism's divergence from orthodox Christianity can be identified with the condemnation of Pelagianism by Jerome and Augustine. Pelagianism is a theological theory named after Pelagius (ad 354 – ad Like the Humanists, Pelagius perceived humans as possessing inherent capacity for developing the qualities that the church perceived as necessitating the gift of grace from God. Pelagius (ca 354 &ndash ca 420/440 was an ascetic monk who denied the doctrine of Original sin, later developed by Augustine of Hippo, and Pelagius rejected the doctrine of original sin. The Humanists likewise recognize humans as born not with a burden of inherited sin due to their ancestry but with potential for both good and evil which will develop in this life as their characters are formed. The Humanists therefore reject Calvinistic predestination, and understandably therefore arouse the hostility of Protestant fundamentalists. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Predestination (also linked with Foreknowledge) is a religious concept which involves the relationship between God and His creation Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Fundamentalism refers to a "deep and totalistic commitment" to a belief in and strict adherence to a set of basic principles (often Religious in nature a reaction

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. The term liberal arts refers to a particular type of educational Curriculum broadly defined as a Classical education. They also approved of self, human worth and individual dignity.

Noteworthy humanist scholars from this period include the Dutch theologian Erasmus, the English author (and Roman Catholic saint) Thomas More, the French writer Francois Rabelais, the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch and the Italian scholar Giovanni Pico della Mirandola. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535 from 1935 Saint Thomas More, was an English Lawyer, author and statesman who in his lifetime gained Francesco Petrarca ( July 20, 1304 – July 19, 1374) known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar Count Giovanni Pico della Mirandola ( February 24, 1463 - November 17, 1494) was an Italian Renaissance Philosopher.

Modern era

One of the earliest forerunners of contemporary chartered humanist organizations was the Humanistic Religious Association formed in 1853 in London. Year 1853 ( MDCCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common 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.

In February 1877, the word "Humanism" was publicly used, apparently for the first time in America, to apply to Felix Adler, pejoratively. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Adler, however, did not embrace the term, and instead coined the name "Ethical Culture" for his new movement — a movement which still exists in the now Humanist-affiliated New York Society for Ethical Culture.

Active in the early 1920s, F.C.S. Schiller considered his work to be tied to the Humanist movement. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada Ferdinand Canning Scott Schiller ( August 16 1864 - August 9 1937) was a German - British pragmatist Schiller himself was influenced by the pragmatism of William James. Pragmatism generally considered to have originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Peirce, who first stated the Pragmatic maxim. For other people named William James see William James (disambiguation William James (January 11 1842 – August 26 1910 was a pioneering 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. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dr Charles Francis Potter (1885-1962 was an American Unitarian minister theologian and author Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS ( 22 June 1887 &ndash 14 February 1975) was an English Evolutionary biologist John Dewey (October 20 1859 &ndash June 1 1952 was an American Philosopher, Psychologist, and educational reformer, whose thoughts and ideas have Albert Einstein ( German: ˈalbɐt ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯n; English: ˈælbɝt ˈaɪnstaɪn (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955 was a German -born theoretical Paul Thomas Mann ( June Potter was a minister from the Unitarian tradition and in 1930 he and his wife, Clara Cook Potter, published Humanism: A New Religion. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. ^[13]

Raymond B. Bragg, the associate editor of The New Humanist, sought to consolidate the input of L. Raymond Bennett Bragg (1902-1979 was an American Unitarian minister who played a key role in the writing of the Humanist Manifesto. 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. Roy Wood Sellars (1880– September 5, 1973) was an American philosopher of Critical realism and Religious humanism, and a proponent of Humanist Manifesto is the title of three Manifestos laying out a Humanist worldview Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. The American Humanist Association (AHA is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. Noted members of The AHA included Isaac Asimov, who was the president before his death, and writer Kurt Vonnegut, who followed as honorary president until his death in 2007. Isaac Asimov (c January 2 1920 &ndash April 6 1992 ˈaɪzək ˈæzɪmʌv originally Исаак Озимов but now transcribed into Russian as, was a Russian Kurt Vonnegut Jr (November 11 1922 – April 11 2007 (ˈvɒnəgət was a prolific and genre-bending American Novelist known for works blending Satire, Black Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Robert Buckman was the head of the association in Canada, and is now an honorary president. Robert (Rob Buckman (born August 22, 1948 in London) is a British - Canadian doctor of medicine Comedian and author and

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, although some Humanists, including the International Humanist and Ethical Union, reject the addition of any adjective at all to "Humanist," and instead intended the word to have universal application. Some have argued against the International Humanist and Ethical Union’s attempts to define Humanism and its various types.

Secular humanism

Main article: Secular humanism

Secular humanism is the branch of humanism that rejects theistic religious belief and adherence to belief in the existence of a supernatural world. Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds Reason, Ethics and Justice, and specifically rejects the Supernatural Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds Reason, Ethics and Justice, and specifically rejects the Supernatural

When people speak of Humanism in general, they are sometimes referring to secular humanism as a default meaning. Some secular humanists take this even further by denying that less anti-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 rejecting supernatural beliefs. The Humanist Manifestos, which represent consensus statements of Humanists, present Humanism as an ethical process and a religion through which we can move above and beyond both the divisive particulars of older religious stances and the negation of these.

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. See also philosophical Humanism For the Renaissance liberal arts movement see Renaissance humanism Humanism is This article discusses the non-theistic Life stance of a major Humanist organisation The Amsterdam Declaration 2002 is a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism passed unanimously by the General Assembly of the International Humanist and

The secular humanist movement, by that name, hardly existed prior to 1980. In 1979, Paul Kurtz lost his position as editor of The Humanist. Paul Kurtz (born December 21, 1925 in Newark New Jersey) is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo Departing the American Humanist Association, he then launched his own publication, Free Inquiry, and founded the Council for Secular Humanism independently of the American Humanist Association yet pursuing essentially similar goals. Free Inquiry is a bi-monthly Journal of secular humanist opinion and commentary published by the Council for Secular Humanism, which is part

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 or deism, without necessarily being allied with organized religion. Religious humanism is an integration of religious Rituals and/or beliefs with humanistic philosophy that centers on Human needs interests and Religious humanism is frequently associated with philosophers, academics and scholars in the liberal arts. It holds appeal for a number of Unitarian Universalists, Quakers, Anglicans and Lutherans. Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Subscribers to a religion who do not hold supernatural assertions as a necessary source for their moral values may be religious humanists. The central position of human beings in humanist philosophy goes with a humane morality; the latter alone does not constitute Humanism. A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal Suffering due to Cruelty or other reasons although in many countries it is now used mostly for societies A humanitarian who derives morality from religious grounds does not make a religious Humanist. Humanitarianism is an active belief in Humanism (the idea of the value of human life whereby Humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans

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 commonalities.

Religious Humanism was studied and developed by the late Rev. Paul Beattie during his tenure as editor of Religious Humanism, a periodical which became Unitarian rather than Humanist after his death and continues as such today.

A Jewish form of religious Humanism was developed by the late Rabbi Sherwin Wine, who founded the Society for Humanistic Judaism, now a worldwide movement with 40,000 adherents.

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. Humanistic psychology is a school of psychology that emerged in the 1950s in reaction to both Behaviorism and Psychoanalysis.

Educational humanism

Humanism, as a current in education, began to dominate school systems in the 17th century. Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency 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. Faculty psychology views the mind as a collection of separate modules or faculties assigned to various mental tasks 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". Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία - geografia) is the study of the Earth and its lands features inhabitants and phenomena History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology Grammar is the field of Linguistics that covers the Rules governing the use of any given natural language. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual 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). Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter

See also

• Humanism in Germany
• List of basic humanism topics
• List of humanists
• Secular humanism
• 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. Humanistic studies were late in finding entrance into Germany. This is a partial list of famous humanists, including both secular and religious humanists. Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds Reason, Ethics and Justice, and specifically rejects the Supernatural Humanist Manifesto is the title of three Manifestos laying out a Humanist worldview The Amsterdam Declaration 2002 is a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism passed unanimously by the General Assembly of the International Humanist and A Secular Humanist Declaration was an argument for and statement of Belief in democratic Secular Humanism.

Related philosophies

• Deism
• Existentialism
• Eudaimonism
• Extropianism
• Infinitism
• Marxist humanism
• Objectivity
• Pragmatism
• Rationalism
• Transhumanism

Organizations

• American Humanist Association
• Arnold P. Deism is the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason alone without dependence on revelation Existentialism is a philosophical doctrine which posits that individuals create the meaning and essence of their lives and that this essence follows from their existence Eudaemonism is a Philosophy that defines right action as that which leads to "well-being" thus holding "well-being" as having Essential value. Extropianism, also referred to as extropism or Extropy, is an evolving framework of values and standards for continuously improving the human condition Infinitism is the view that knowledge may be justified by an infinite chain of reasons Marxist humanism is a branch of Marxism that primarily focuses on Marx's earlier writings, especially the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts Objectivity is both an important and very difficult concept to pin down in philosophy Pragmatism generally considered to have originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Peirce, who first stated the Pragmatic maxim. The modern rationalist movement is a philosophical doctrine that asserts that the Truth can best be discovered by reason and factual analysis rather than Faith Transhumanism (sometimes symbolized by >H or H+) a term often used as a synonym for " Human enhancement " is an international intellectual The American Humanist Association (AHA is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. Gold Foundation, for the advancement of humanism in medicine
• British Humanist Association
• Council for Secular Humanism
• Ethical Culture
• European Humanist Federation
• Humanist Association of Ireland
• Humanisterna, the Swedish Humanist Association
• Human-Etisk Forbund, the Norwegian Humanist Association
• Humanist International
• Humanist Movement
• Humanist Society of Scotland
• Institute for Humanist Studies
• International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU)
• North East Humanists, the largest regional Humanist group in the United Kingdom
• Rationalist International
• Sidmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association
• Society for Humanistic Judaism

For more organizations see Category:Humanist associations

Other

• Antihumanism
• Humanistic psychology
• Misanthropy
• Religious freedom — freedom of religion and belief
• Social psychology
• Speciesism

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Petrosyan, M. 1972 Humanism: Its Philosophical, Ethical, and Sociological Aspects, Progress Publishers, Moscow.
• Barry, P. 2002 Beginning Theory: an introduction to literary and cultural theory, 2nd edn, Manchester University Press, Manchester, U. K. , p. 36
• Everything2, 2002 Liberal Humanism, http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1321605
• Liberal Humanism (Modernism) and Postmodernism 2001, http://herbergeronline.asu.edu/the220/notes/postmodern.html
• Moon, B. 2001 Literary terms: a practical glossary, 2nd edn, Chalkface Press, Cotteslow, W. A. , Australia, p. 62
• PhilWeb: Theoretical Resources Off– and On–line. "Liberal Humanism. " http://www.phillwebb.net/History/TwentiethCentury/AngloAmerican/LiberalHumanism.htm

External links

Manifestos and statements setting out humanist viewpoints

• Humanist Manifesto I (1933)
• Humanist Manifesto II (1973)
• A Secular Humanist Declaration (1980)
• Amsterdam Declaration (2002)
• Humanist Manifesto III (2003)

Introductions to humanism

• What Is Humanism? from the American Humanist Association
• Morain, Lloyd and Mary: Humanism as the Next Step, from the American Humanist Association
• Huxley, Julian: The Humanist Frame
• Humanism: Why, What, and What For, In 882 Words
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Civic Humanism
• Catholic Encyclopedia article on Renaissance Humanism

Web articles

• New Humanist British magazine from the Rationalist Press Association (RPA)
• Nanovirus — A humanist perspective on politics, technology and culture
• Modern Humanist An Online Journal for Modern Humanism, Humanist Philosophy & Life

Web books

• The Philosophy of Humanism by Corliss Lamont
• A Guide for the Godless: The Secular Path to Meaning by Andrew Kernohan
• The New Humanism by Edward Howard Griggs
• Thinking and Moral Problems, Religions and Their Source, Purpose, and Developing a Universal Religion, four Parts of a Wikibook. The American Humanist Association (AHA is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. The American Humanist Association (AHA is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. Corliss Lamont ( March 28, 1902 &ndash April 26, 1995) was a humanist and Marxist philosopher and advocate of various

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