Humanismo

The word 'humanism' has had , and continues to have, a variety of meanings. At its broadest, 'humanism' means little more than a system of thought in which human values, interests, and dignity are considered particularly important. Understood in this way, perhaps almost every one qualifies as a humanist (including those of us who are religious).

However, those who organize under the banner of 'humanism' today, especially in the UK, usually mean something rather more focused. They embrace a particular kind of worldview tha by no means every one accept. That worldview is the focus of this book.

So what distinguishes the humanist outlook? It is difficult to be very precise. The boundaries of the concept are elastic. But I think most humanists would probably agree on something like the following minimal, seven-point characterization (in no particular order):

First, humanists believe science, and reason more generally, are invaluable tools we can and should apply to all areas of life. No beliefs should be considered off-limits and protected from rational scrutiny.

Second, humanists are either atheists or at least agnostics. They are sceptical about the claim that there exists a god or gods. They are also sceptical about angels, demons, and other such supernatural beings.

Third, humanists believe that this life is the only life we have. We are not reincarnated. Nor is there any heaven or hell to which we go after we die. Notice that the humanist's sceptical position regarding both gods and an afterlife is not a dogmatic 'faith position', but a consequence of their having subjected such beliefs to critical scrutiny and found them seriously wanting.

Fourth, humanism involves a commitment to the existence and importance of moral value. Humanists also believe our ethics should be strongly informed by study of what human beings are actually like, and of what  will help them flourishing in this world, rather then the next. Humanists reject such negative claims as that there cannot be moral value without God, and that we will not be, or are unlikely to be, good without God and religion to guide us. Humanists offer moral justifications and arguments rooted other than in religious authority and dogma.

Fifth, humanists emphasize our individual moral autonomy. It is our individual responsability to make our own moral judgements, rather than attempt to hand that responsability over to some external authority - such as a political leader or religion - that will make those judgements for us. Humanists favour developing forms of moral education that emphasize this responsability and that will equip us with the skills we will need to discharge properly.

Sixth, humanists believe our lives can have meaning without it being bestowed from above by God. They suppose that the lives of, say, Pablo Picasso, Marie Curie, Ernest Shackelton, and Albert Einstein were all rich, significant, and meaningful, whether there is a God or not.

Seventh, humanists are secularists, in the sense that they favour an open, democractic society in which the state takes a neutral position with respect to religion, protecting the freedom of individuals to follow and espouse, or reject and criticize, both religious and atheist beliefs. While humanists will obviously oppose any attempt to coerce people into embracing religious belief, they are no less opposed to coercing people into embracing atheism, as happened under certain totalitarian regimes.

- Stephen Law, "Humanism: a Very Short Introduction" (OUP, 2011, pp. 1-3)