What is humanism?
Humanism is system of thought focussing on humans and their welfare, needs and values – humanity.
It is an ethical point of view that emphasises the dignity and worth of individual people and rejecting claims of the supernatural.
It stresses the need for people to achieve improvement of society and self-fulfillment through reason and to develop human-oriented ethical values without the divine / supernatural.
The Core Ideas of Humanism:
- Reason and critical thinking – not just relying on tradition or authority.
- Human dignity and worth – all humans possess inherent value deserving ethical treatment and respect.
- Empathy and compassion – advocating compassion, respect and kindness, compassion for others.
- Universal human rights – equality, justice, freedom, social responsibility.
- Secular ethic – believing morality comes from human experience, logic and rational thought – separate to religious doctrines.
- Human creativity / culture – encompassing philosophy, science, art, literature as expressions of human potential.