WHAT IS HUMANISM?

Humanism is an approach to life based on reason and our common humanity, recognising that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone. Humanism encourages open-minded enquiry into matters relevant to human co-existence and well-being.

Humanists are committed to the application of reason and science, to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems so that quality of life can be improved for everyone.

While atheism is merely the absence of belief, humanism is a positive attitude to the world, centred on human experience, thought, and hopes. The British Humanist Association and The International Humanist and Ethical Union use similar emblems showing a stylised human figure reaching out to achieve its full potential.

Humanists believe that human experience and rational thinking provide the only source of both knowledge and a moral code to live by. They reject the idea of knowledge 'revealed' to human beings by gods, or in special books.

Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

Most humanists would agree with the ideas below:

• There are no supernatural beings.
• The material universe is the only thing that exists.
• Science provides the only reliable source of knowledge about this universe.
• We only live this life - there is no after-life, and no such thing as reincarnation.
• Human beings can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs.
• Human beings derive their moral code from the lessons of history, personal experience, and thought.

This is an extract from the BBC's website (their site contains some excellent descriptions of different faiths and belief systems).

ATHEISM, AGNOSTICISM & HUMANISM - What's the Difference?

Atheism

Atheists are people who do not believe in a god or gods (or other immaterial beings), or who believe that these concepts are not meaningful. Some atheists put it more firmly and believe that god or gods do not exist. Many people are atheists because they think there is no evidence for god's existence - or at least no reliable evidence. They argue that a person should only believe in things for which they have good evidence.

Agnosticism

Agnosticism (without knowledge) is the view that the truth of certain claims — particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of god, deities, or even ultimate reality — is unknown or inherently unknowable. Agnosticism is therefore distinct in being the only religious belief system that does not, in fact, involve belief in anything. Agnostics are sceptical of anyone who claims to have all the answers regarding why humans exist, where the universe came from, and whether or not a higher power is responsible for it all. They view hardcore atheists and religious fanatics with equal scorn, and often attribute to them the harm that's done to others as a result of their 'fanatical' attempts to propagate their often extreme views. Most agnostics consider that the comprehension of god is beyond man's capabilities and that there are far better things to do in a brief life span than sit around trying to figure everything out.

Humanism

Humanism is a positive attitude to the world, centred on human experience, thought, and hopes. It is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality. Most humanists would argue that there are no supernatural beings; that the material universe is the only thing that exists; that science provides the only reliable source of knowledge about this universe; and that there is no after-life and no such thing as reincarnation. Human beings can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs. We should derive our moral code from the lessons of history, personal experience and thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUMANIST MANIFESTOS & DECLARATIONS

AMSTERDAM DECLARATION (2002)

Humanism is the outcome of a long tradition of free thought that has inspired many of the world's great thinkers and creative artists and gave rise to science itself. The fundamentals of modern Humanism are as follows:

 

1 Humanism is ethical. It affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. Humanists have a duty of care to all of humanity including future generations. Humanists believe that morality is an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others, needing no external sanction.

2 Humanism is rational. It seeks to use science creatively, not destructively. Humanists believe that the solutions to the world's problems lie in human thought and action rather than divine intervention. Humanism advocates the application of the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare. But Humanists also believe that the application of science and technology must be tempered by human values. Science gives us the means but human values must propose the ends.

3 Humanism supports democracy and human rights. Humanism aims at the fullest possible development of every human being. It holds that democracy and human development are matters of right. The principles of democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are not restricted to methods of government.

4 Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. Humanism ventures to build a world on the idea of the free person responsible to society, and recognises our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world. Humanism is undogmatic, imposing no creed upon its adherents. It is thus committed to education free from indoctrination.

5 Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religion. The world's major religions claim to be based on revelations fixed for all time, and many seek to impose their world-views on all of humanity. Humanism recognises that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process of observation, evaluation and revision.

6 Humanism values artistic creativity and imagination and recognises the transforming power of art. Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.

7 Humanism is a lifestance aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times.

Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere. Our primary task is to make human beings aware in the simplest terms of what Humanism can mean to them and what it commits them to. By utilising free inquiry, the power of science and creative imagination for the furtherance of peace and in the service of compassion, we have confidence that we have the means to solve the problems that confront us all. We call upon all who share this conviction to associate themselves with us in this endeavour. IHEU Congress 2002.

 

 

HUMANIST MANIFESTO III (2003)

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity. The lifestance of Humanism—guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience—encourages us to live life well and fully. It evolved through the ages and continues to develop through the efforts of thoughtful people who recognize that values and ideals, however carefully wrought, are subject to change as our knowledge and understandings advance. This document is part of an ongoing effort to manifest in clear and positive terms the conceptual boundaries of Humanism, not what we must believe but a consensus of what we do believe. It is in this sense that we affirm the following:

• Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. Humanists find that science is the best method for determining this knowledge as well as for solving problems and developing beneficial technologies. We also recognize the value of new departures in thought, the arts, and inner experience—each subject to analysis by critical intelligence.
• Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond. We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility
• Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. We aim for our fullest possible development and animate our lives with a deep sense of purpose, finding wonder and awe in the joys and beauties of human existence, its challenges and tragedies, and even in the inevitability and finality of death. Humanists rely on the rich heritage of human culture and the lifestance of Humanism to provide comfort in times of want and encouragement in times of plenty.
• Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence. The joining of individuality with interdependence enriches our lives, encourages us to enrich the lives of others, and inspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.
• Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness. Progressive cultures have worked to free humanity from the brutalities of mere survival and to reduce suffering, improve society, and develop global community. We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and we support a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits of human effort so that as many as possible can enjoy a good life.
• Humanists are concerned for the well being of all, are committed to diversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views. We work to uphold the equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties in an open, secular society and maintain it is a civic duty to participate in the democratic process and a planetary duty to protect nature’s integrity, diversity, and beauty in a secure, sustainable manner.
• Thus engaged in the flow of life, we aspire to this vision with the informed conviction that humanity has the ability to progress toward its highest ideals. The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours and ours alone.
• Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change. Humanists recognize nature as self-existing. We accept our life as all and enough, distinguishing things as they are from things as we might wish or imagine them to be. We welcome the challenges of the future, and are drawn to and undaunted by the yet to be known.

Humanist Manifesto is a trademark of the American Humanist Association—© 2003 American Humanist Association. This particular version is a successor to the Humanist Manifesto of 1933.

 

FAMOUS ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS & HUMANISTS

Many famous people don't/didn't believe in god. Some call(ed) themselves atheists, others, agnostics; and some think/thought of themselves as humanists. Here are a few of the better known individuals -- you can find more information about any of them on http://en.wikipedia.org:

Before Common Era (BCE)

Socrates (469 - 399)

Epicurus (341 - 270)

Lucretius (99 - 55)

 

17th Century

Voltaire (1694 - 1791)

 

18th Century

Hume, David (1711 - 1776)

Diderot, Denis (1713 - 1784)

Smith, Adam (1723 - 1790)

Paine, Thomas (1737 - 1809)

Bentham, Jeremy (1748 - 1832)

Wollstonecraft, Mary (1759 - 1797)

Shelly, Percy Bysshe (1792 - 1822)

 

19th Century

Mill, John Stuart (1806 - 1873)

Darwin, Charles (1809 - 1882)

Eliot, George (1819 - 1880)

Huxley, Thomas (1825 - 1895)

Twain, Mark (1835 - 1910)

Besant, Annie (1847 -1933)

Wells, HG (1866 - 1946)

Curie, Marie (1867 - 1934)

Russell, Bertrand (1872 - 1970)

Einstein, Albert (1879 - 1955)

Keynes, Maynard (1883 - 1946)

Buck, Pearl (1892-1973)

Huxley, Aldous (1894 - 1963)

 

20th Century

Popper, Karl (1902 - 1994)

Blackham, H. J. (1903 - 2009)

Sartre, Jean-Paul (1905 - 1980)

Arendt, Hannah (1906-1975)

Hepburn, Katharine (1907-2003)

Beauvoir, Simone de  (1908 - 1986)

Bacon, Francis (1909 - 1992)

Berlin, Isaiah (1909 - 1997)

Ayer, Alfred J (1910 - 1989)

Miller, Arthur (1915 - 2005)

Crick, Francis (1916 - 2004)

Clarke, Arthur C (1917 - 2008)

Bergman, Ingmar (1918 - 2007)

Feynman, Richard (1918 - 1988)

Kennedy, Ludovic (1919 - 2009)

Asimov, Isaac (1920 - 1992)

Ustinov, Peter (1921 - 2004)

Vonnegut, Kurt (1922 - 2007)

Gordimer, Nadine (1923 - )

Vidal, Gore (1925 - )

Attenborough, David (1926 - )

Melly, George (1926 - 2007)

Monkhouse, Bob (1928 - 2003)

Watson, James D. (1928 - )

Barker, Ronnie (1929 - 2005)

Rayner, Claire (1931 - )

Duffy, Maureen (1933 - )

Miller, Jonathan (1934 - )

Sagan, Carl (1934 - 1996)

Allen, Woody (1935 - )

McKellen, Ian (1939 - )

Lennon, John (1940 - 1980)

Dawkins, Richard (1941 - )

Blackstone, Baroness Tessa (1942 - )

Dennett, Daniel (1942 - )

Kinnock, Baroness Glenys (1944 - )

Leakey, Richard (1944 - )

Asher, Jane (1946  - )

Pullman, Phillip (1946 - )

Toynbee, Polly (1946 - )

Rushdie, Salman (1947 - )

McEwan, Ian (1948 - )

Pratchett, Terry (1948 - )

Taylor, James (1948 - )

Grayling, Antony C (1949 - )

Hitchens, Christopher (1949 - )

Murray, Jenni (1950 - )

Blackmore, Dr Susan (1951 - )

Honeyball, Mary (1952 - )

Adams, Douglas (1952 - 2001)

Pinker, Steven (1954 - )

Gervais, Ricky (1961 - )

Smith, Linda (1958 - 2006)

Thompson, Emma (1959 - )

HUMANIST HERITAGE: art, science, philosophy & social reform

Humanist Week 2010 saw the launch of HumanistHeritage.org.uk, a website where you can find out more about historical figures – and the places in the United Kingdom and Ireland associated with them – who have influenced humanist and secularist thinking or demonstrated humanist ideals in their lives. We have selected here Scottish Philosopher, David Hume. The site is hosted by the British Humanist Association.

There are already over 90 people and places listed on the site but there are many more entries left to write.  So if there’s someone or somewhere near you that that is notable by its absence and you can think you can write a short factual entry about them the BHA would love to hear from you.

The BHA is also looking for people with an expertise in humanist heritage who would be willing to write articles or speak publicly for the project. You might have an expertise about a particular place, person, era or organisation or be able to offer a more general overview of humanism or secularism. In either case please contact the project for more details.
 

IN SUMMARY (Instructions for Life)