Humanism

[Elijah Craig]

Are you a Humanist? If so, why? If not, why not?

[Despair]

I don't know too much on the subject, but according to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy -

During the Middle Ages most Western philosophy was religious philosophy which tended to emphasize how little people understand without the help of God, Holy Scripture, and the Church. During the Renasissance the attitude was gradually replaced by a feeling that people weren't so helpless after all.
The feeling is ofter referred to as humanism, the idea that all of the things people think and do are important, interesting, and valuable for their own sake, in addition to whatever they may say about the relationship between people and god.

I guess I agree with what the 2nd paragraph there says, because the thoughts are important to someone even if it be just you, and it gives people a sense in this world that they may actually matter. Provides hope in someway or another from what I see, but I'm just going by these 2 paragraphs. ;D

[Elijah Craig]

Humanism is to Humanity as Nationalism is to Nation.

[Despair]

Well I'm still working on the study oh philosophy, so what do you think about Humanism.

[Elijah Craig]

In “Existentialism is a Humanism”, Sartre displays the belief that only humans exist, it is only their Cartesian Cogito which is existing, subjective choices. He says that since Humanity is the core of existence, meaning it alone thinks, uses language, philosophizes, etc etc etc., and because existence precedes essence, existentialism is a humanism: it recognizes Human Choice alone in the universe.

Heidegger wrote “Letter on Humanism” in response to Sartre’s essay. He says that Sartre is using the Cartesian Cogito (The “I think”, etc.), in a metaphysical sense, because he is not analyzing the question of the Being, the question of the truth of Being, or the question of the meaning of Being. Heidegger says that Being comes before Humanity.

To make it easier: Sartre says that existence is what man makes it, as if he were the sole creator, the sole force behind all things: he is in total freedom: he is responsible for his actions completely. Being is only in action. And that Man creates Being.
Heidegger, on the other hand, says that Being comes before man. That Man comes into Being through Being. Being is an “open region” which Man “dwells” in.

Both say they are Humanists. Heidegger because he recognizes Humanity as the “guardian” of the truth of Being. Sartre because he recognizes Human Action as the only existence.

I agree with Sartre.

[Sensitive]

Humanism (the modern use of the word) is a non-theistic philosophy, meaning that they do not believe in a deity. Most of the "humanist" organizations seem to be liberal capitalists (the American variety of liberals). I would not call myself to be a humanist. I am an atheist and a communist.

[Elijah Craig]

Marx called Marxism a humanism, not in plain terms, but in analyzing Feurbach.

Communism is Humanistic essentially.And atheism has nothing to do with humanism, though some “humanists” have been Christians.

Humanism has nothing to do with “human rights”, etc. It is recognizing Humanity as the sole being which causes Being to exist as it does. Action is Being, Humans Acting is Being.