Secular Humanism What Does That Mean

Philosopher Paul Kurtz describes the many ways in which secular humanism's scientific, philosophical, and ethical outlook has exerted a profound influence on civilization from the ancient world to the present.

Summary: Philosopher Stephen Law explains why humanism--though a rejection of religion--nevertheless provides both a moral basis and a meaning for our lives.-publisher description.

In the meantime, in between time, the Industrial Revolution began to occur in Europe in 1760, and, in the United States between 1820-1840. The Industrial Revolution paid no attention to Human Nature cognitive metaphysical development___human intelligence. Nor to any ethical, or, moral humanness innate metaphysical proclivity. The Industrial Revolution fostered Herbert Spencer’s, (1820-1910), evolutionary human development “survival of the fittest,” as well as Karl Marx, (1818-1883), economic human development neglecting human intellectual development. Earthy reality notion of Secular Humanism began with Auguste Comte, (1789-1857), and, Emile Durkheim, (1858-1917), as the result of the French Revolution, (1798-1857), when Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself in Notre Dame Cathedral as Emperor of The French Empire. The French Revolution was not able to acquire democracy for France, nor, humanity, equality, fraternite.

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Although there is no shortage of recent books arguing against religion, few offer a positive alternative—how anyone might live a fulfilling life without the support of religious beliefs. This enlightening book fills the gap. Philip Kitcher constructs an original and persuasive secular perspective, one that answers human needs, recognizes the objectivity of values, and provides for the universal desire for meaningfulness. Kitcher thoughtfully and sensitively considers how secularism can respond to the worries and challenges that all people confront, including the issue of mortality. He investigates how secular lives compare with those of people who adopt religious doctrines as literal truth, as well as those who embrace less literalistic versions of religion. Whereas religious belief has been important in past times, Kitcher concludes that evolution away from religion is now essential. He envisions the successors to religious life, when the senses of identity and community traditionally fostered by religion will instead draw on a broader range of cultural items—those provided by poets, filmmakers, musicians, artists, scientists, and others. With clarity and deep insight, Kitcher reveals the power of secular humanism to encourage fulfilling human lives built on ethical truth.

There are very few terms about which there is more confusion and controversy than "secular humanism." Hitchcock examines what secular humanism is, and how it affects individuals.

The place of religion in society has changed profoundly in the last few centuries, particularly in the West. In what will be a defining book for our time, Taylor takes up the question of what these changes mean, and what, precisely, happens when a society becomes one in which faith is only one human possibility among others.