2 - The humanist tradition

Summary

It has been said that humanism is “as old as human civilization and as modern as the twentieth century” (Elias and Merriam: 109). To avoid becoming dated, I would suggest that humanism is as ancient as humanity and as new as the latest scientific discovery. Or, to put it more prosaically, humanism is a recent name for a philosophy with ancient roots that seeks constantly to update itself in the light of new knowledge.

The terms “humanism” and “humanist” have been used in many different contexts. They have referred to the educational program of Renaissance scholars, as well as to movements in art, literature, psychology, architecture, and other cultural fields. While these senses differ, they all share a central focus on humanity, often representing a move away from concerns with divinity. Thus the Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences defines humanism as, “That which is characteristically human, not supernatural, that which belongs to man and not to external nature, that which raises man to his greatest height or gives him, as man, his greatest satisfaction.”

Today, the term “humanism” is most often used in reference to a comprehensive worldview, or life stance, that the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines as “a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially: a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason.