What is Humanism?
The fundamental idea of humanism is that our actions should be aimed at assuring the best life possible for all people. Other important elements of humanism are reliance on natural science and democracy.
Humanism is rapidly becoming the standard in educated societies. We find humanism to be an exciting, liberating philosophy, and see in it answers to most of the problems facing humankind in the world today.
The defining principles of modern humanism may be expressed as follows:
Morality should be judged by what is best for humanity and the world around us. People are more important than dogma or ideology.
Nature is all of reality. We do not know of credible evidence of supernatural beings. The universe is evolved and motivated only by unchanging natural laws.
Reason and the Scientific Method are the most trustworthy routes to knowledge. Knowledge is a tool to be applied with compassion and empathy for humanitarian purposes.
Democracy is humanism applied to government. Civil rights must be guaranteed for all segments of society and for unpopular as well as majority opinions.
Humanity is an interlocking community with enormous potential for both good and evil. We are stewards of a world that belongs to all of life. A healthy future for humanity and the rest of nature depends on friendly cooperation among all peoples and nations.
Humanism is a process of continuing inquiry. It evolves as we develop new ideas and reexamine the old in light of new experience.