Humanism dead? - Historum

**Comet** · September 18th, 2006, 06:50 AM

The idea of humanism was one of the major aspects that separated the Renaissance from other intellectual movements throughout history. Not only did it become the backbone of the Renaissance, but it fueled the protest made by the Reformation. After the Reformation, you don't hear a whole lot about humanism at all. What do you all think? Did humanism die during the early modern period.....or is humanism still with us today. Obviously there is no right or wrong answer so please feel free to comment.

**Belisarius** · September 18th, 2006, 09:17 AM

Many of the so called "New Age" religions have humanist elements and influences. Humanism as a seperate philosophy still exists today

**Rasta** · April 28th, 2011, 11:12 AM

I declar thee resurrected!

I thought this could be an interesting thread, that did not get much attention.

I see humanism as very alive today, or at least it's impact.

Quote:

Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. The term can mean several things, for example:

A cultural movement of the Italian Renaissance based on the study of classical works
An approach to education that uses literary means or a focus on the humanities to inform students.
A variety of perspectives in philosophy and social science which affirm some notion of 'human nature' (by contrast with anti-humanism).
A secular ideology which espouses reason, ethics, and justice, whilst specifically rejecting supernatural and religious dogma as a basis of morality and decision-making.

Source:

Humanism

**Belloc** · April 28th, 2011, 01:59 PM

Secular Humanism maybe dying, but I think an undercurrent of Theistic Humanism is alive and growing.

**Robert165** · April 28th, 2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasta

A secular ideology which espouses reason, ethics, and justice, whilst specifically rejecting supernatural and religiousdogma as a basis of morality and decision-making.[/url]

This is the one I choose, with a bit of humanist existentialism thrown in as well as some socialist thought and the value of all people being equal, or at least deserving of being treated equal

**Toltec** · April 28th, 2011, 03:01 PM

The British Humanist Society seems to be alive kicking and very active.

**Guaporense** · April 28th, 2011, 04:08 PM

Humanism completely dominates the modern world. In fact, the modern world is in essence a humanistic world.

And of course the Italian renaissance had everything with the emergence of the modern world.

sylla1 · April 28th, 2011, 04:12 PM

I also find Humanism quite alive.

**Sharks and love** · April 28th, 2011, 06:57 PM

Comet, humanism is very much alive today.

Remember that one need not call himself a humanist to share their beliefs and view about the world.

People who call themselves humanists often present humanism in a polemic way, as if a person cannot believe in God and still be a humanist, but that isn't the case at all.

The core characteristic of humanism is a trust in humans to determine what is right and wrong for themselves, as opposed to believing that only divinity can determine what is right and wrong.

So under this criteria, humanism is very much the dominant attitude in most of the West.

**Labienus** · April 28th, 2011, 06:59 PM

I also share the opinion that humanism is well alive. We would be in a very negative situation if the contrary was true.