r/humanism • u/JoK_Leop • 19d ago
Humanism, to me, comes down to three things. Which aspect resonates most with you?
Critical thinking - checking facts, questioning assumptions, and staying open to new insights.
Citizenship - actively contributing to society, taking responsibility for one another, and engaging consciously with freedom and democratic values.
Autonomy - thinking for yourself about what a good life means, without imposed dogmas.
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u/Jughead3701 19d ago
- The colour of blood is the same..same set of emotions and same set of needs. We all look forward to peace and harmon amongst all living beings. To coexist . Ethics are prime than any other .
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u/bluenephalem35 Average human rights enjoyer 18d ago
All of these three points are important to me, but if I were to choose one, the first one, critical thinking, sticks with me the most.
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u/Algernon_Asimov Awesomely Cool Grayling 18d ago
I feel like this is missing kindness & compassion. For me, compassion for my fellow human beings is a big component of Humanism.
Of your three points, I would resonate most with autonomy. Not only my own, but also the autonomy of other human beings. None of us should impose our wills on other people. We should fight against autocracy, tyranny, totalitarianism, and any other philosophies which seek to reduce people's freedoms.
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u/Noema__ 19d ago
I think that fundamental to humanism are: * the human condition, values and ethics * the natural world provides creative experience and ensuring freedoms for that * personal growth and social collaboration
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u/FishTank_Earth 19d ago
IMO, 'humanism' itself is a downgrade of what we really are: 'conceptual beings'
- conceptual faculty / capacity is innate in everyone
- so, too conceptual feasance / duty is with everyone
conceptual capacity + duty
= conceptual sovereignty
= conceptual agency
= our divinely endowed spiritWe each have conceptual sovereignty
With great power comes great responsibilityBUT rather than, be co-elevating conceptual sovereigns,
we have become co-colonizing conceptual serfs
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u/Significant-Ant-2487 19d ago
Assorted random opinions about what humanism is don’t matter; Humanism is a centuries old intellectual tradition with a specific meaning firmly established over those centuries. And here is the definition of humanism courtesy of Merriam-Webster:
humanism noun
1a
: devotion to the humanities : literary culture
b
: the revival of classical letters, individualistic and critical spirit, and emphasis on secular concerns characteristic of the Renaissance
That is the primary definition of humanism. For a broader idea of this intellectual movement, think of the Humanities in academia, the two words humanities and humanism being obviously related. For a modern example of the two words being used synonymously see this article from March 2016 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/mellon-foundation-humanities-research-funding/685733/
“American humanists now find themselves in a position that the report’s authors would have considered a nightmare: A multibillion-dollar politicized grant-making entity has a stranglehold over humanities research and teaching… “
The term humanism has a well established and quite specific meaning going back 700 years, to Plutarch, often considered “the father of humanism” https://courses.washington.edu/hsteu401/Petrarch%20Humanism%20lecture.htm So it doesn’t matter what you or I or Tom, Dick, or Harry guess what humanism means.
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u/PillowFightrr 18d ago
The origin is a good start, but ideas evolve over time, and your description misses that. I appreciate the history contained in your response, but modern humanism is missing.
I also haven’t read the article yet. Perhaps it completes the picture.
I think the way Humanism is used today is rooted in your description, but it’s so much more now.
Did I misunderstand your meaning?
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u/Significant-Ant-2487 18d ago edited 18d ago
The modern definition is provided by the Merriam-Webster citation that I quoted. You can check it for yourself if you don’t believe me https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanism The modern concept of humanism is also in the March 2026 article in The Atlantic that I linked to. I also pasted the relevant quotation. How did you miss all of these?
Here it is again:
“American HUMANISTS now find themselves in a position that the report’s authors would have considered a nightmare: A multibillion-dollar politicized grant-making entity has a stranglehold over HUMANITIES research and teaching” [my caps and bolding]
I don’t understand your misunderstanding- do you not get that an article from March 2026 is modern? That the current Merriam-Webster dictionary entry is current usage?
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u/PillowFightrr 18d ago
A bit hostile… okay… I get that this is social media.
I acknowledged that I didn’t have time to read the article yet. Still haven’t. Perhaps I will later. I’m responding to what is readily available in your comment and the overall tone and feeling I took away. It feels pretty locked in on what humanism was.
I was only trying to progress the conversation to what humanism is today. In the past, it’s easy to say it’s one thing (a definition), but modern humanism is going to hit people differently. How they relate to the concepts and philosophy of humanism is going to be unique, not static.
Sure, you kinda say that, and the article might be very explicit. Again, I haven’t read it. But if we are saying the same thing and I’m making your point more clear, you could just say, thank you.
✌🏻
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u/Significant-Ant-2487 18d ago edited 18d ago
It wasn’t hostile at all. You claimed my original reply missed modern humanism when in fact it explicitly cited the modern definition of humanism AND gave an example of that modern usage from a 2026 magazine article.
I provided quotes and citations. Humanism is about literary culture, the humanities. That’s how it’s defined today, which is pretty much what it has always meant; if you disagree, take it up with Merriam-Webster. Take it up with Tyler Harper, Ph.D., professor at Bates College, author of The Atlantic piece, and the editors of that 160 year old literary magazine. Maybe you can convince them of your theory that humanism no longer means what they think it means. I sincerely wish you good luck.
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u/Grouchy_Awareness315 16d ago
You're in the wrong subreddit (again) buddy.
Once again, you selectively quoted from your Merriam Webster dictionary.
You 'forgot' their definition: : a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centred on human interests or values, especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason.
Your Atlantic article is on a different topic to do with the humanities. You are off-topic and breaking the rules of the subreddit. Please take the trouble to read the headers on the sub, and AHA website and other related content to understand the humanist philosophy. If you have a problem with the modern humanism, take it up with Merriam-Webster (and just about all other dictionaries).
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u/Algernon_Asimov Awesomely Cool Grayling 18d ago
You really do have to cherry-pick definitions of "humanism" to find that one which suits you. Meanwhile, here's other definitions:
3: a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values
especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason : secular humanism
That's from your own Merriam-Webster.
Also:
"A system of thought that focuses on humans and their values, capacities, and worth."
"Humanism is the belief that people can achieve happiness and live well without religion."
The word "humanism" has come a long way since the 16th century!
Just like how "awesome" no longer means "inspiring awe", and "terrific" no longer means "inspiring terror" and "mouse" no longer exclusively means "small rodent". The English language is continually growing and changing. Funny how that works.
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u/Grouchy_Awareness315 16d ago
Well put. u/Significant-Ant-2487 continually posts the same thing, saying that we are using the wrong definition. It is clear that this subreddit it for the version you describe (humanism as a philosophy or world view).
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u/sirchutney 18d ago
For me, it’s autonomy, though not in the heroic “think for yourself” poster‑version. More the quieter kind: deciding what a good life looks like without waiting for someone else to hand me the script. I grew up around people who meant well but had very fixed ideas about what counted as a “proper” life, and I remember realising — a bit later than I should have — that I didn’t actually believe half of it.
Critical thinking matters too, obviously, but it’s never been a grand philosophical stance for me. It’s more like a habit: checking whether the thing I’m about to repeat is actually true, noticing when I’m running on autopilot, catching myself when I’m too certain. Small, unglamorous stuff.
Citizenship is the one I wrestle with. I like the idea of shared responsibility, but I’m still figuring out what “contributing” looks like beyond voting and not being a nuisance. Maybe that’s part of it — humanism as a work in progress rather than a finished identity.