Humanism (Part 7) 

Author: M. Asem Ismail Zahi

Humanism (Part 7) 

The Most Important Intellectual Principles of Humanism

1. The Centrality of the Human Being versus the Centrality of God

In humanism, the human being is regarded as the measure of all things and the center of the universe. Humanity is considered the absolute owner of existence. All matters are to be evaluated by humans themselves. Although certain humanistic tendencies speak of religion and belief in God, such adherence is merely a tool for preventing social disorder. Even in these theistic humanistic approaches, human beings and their freedom are the ultimate purpose, while knowledge of God is treated as a means.

2. Emphasis on Human Freedom and Free Will

Power and destiny are entrusted entirely to the human being, and the sovereignty of divine decree is rejected. Individuals are free from the authority of the Church and religion, and they may dominate religion, history, nature, and the state—particularly in reaction to the denial of human free will during the Middle Ages.

3. The Supremacy of Human Reason

Human intellect is considered equal to, or even superior to, the intellect of God. Human reason assumes the leadership of mankind, stripping religion of its authority and guidance. Humanistic rationality is self-grounded and independent of revelation.

4. Naturalism

The domain of human activity is nature, and humans can interact with it through their senses. Consequently, metaphysics and the unseen realm are degraded, while reliance on the non-material world for resolving human problems is viewed as an effort to weaken or diminish human rationality. Thus, all economic, political, cultural, and other theories must be distanced from metaphysical foundations.

5. Tolerance

With the primacy given to human beings, all human behaviors and beliefs are considered valuable. (This approach was partly influenced by the religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries.) According to this view, all religions—whether monotheistic or atheistic, authentic or superstitious—stem from a common root; therefore, their adherents should tolerate one another. An open society and democracy serve as the best guarantees of human rights. [1]

Humanism, from various perspectives, branches into multiple forms, including individualistic, collectivist, literary, philosophical, religious, atheistic, and others.

Based on the Points Above, Humanists Hold Two Categories of Beliefs

1. Negative (Denying) Beliefs

1. Denial of belief in God; God is not the creator of humankind.

2. Denial of creation: the universe is the product of a long process of evolution and the combination of atoms; evolution itself follows intrinsic laws of matter. The world was not brought into existence through divine planning or design.

3. The world is one-dimensional; apart from the realm of matter, no other realm exists. Belief in immaterial beings is the product of imagination.

4. Angels, devils, jinn, immaterial intellects, and all supra-material beings mentioned in religions or previous metaphysical philosophies are merely imaginary entities.

5. The human being is also one-dimensional; there is no such thing as a soul. There is no personal immortality, and human existence ends with death.

6. There is no heaven, hell, reward, or punishment in the afterlife.

7. Political, social, and moral rules that originate from the higher world are all human-made constructs.

8. Truth cannot be known through religion (revelation) or through pure philosophy (acceptance of innate cognition and non-empirical rational methods). [2]

1. Positive (Affirmative) Beliefs

1. Human dignity and status possess fundamental and central value. The intellectual system of humanists is human-centered rather than God-centered. In this approach, the human being occupies the position formerly attributed to God.

2. Worldly and present life is important and must be cherished. The ultimate purpose of humans should be the flourishing of this world, not other worlds.

3. Full responsibility for the world rests on the human being.

4. Truth is to be understood solely through human reason. Ancient Greek and Roman thought is highly praised because it is based on rational methodology. Thus, humanists trace their origins back to Greece and Rome.

5. The astonishing scientific advancements of the past four centuries are seen as results of abandoning traditional methods of thought and adopting the scientific method.

6. Support for unrestricted inquiry.

7. Moral laws are established by humans as results of collective agreement over shared interests. Values are also human-made, and their continuity depends on their ability to preserve humanity in the struggle for survival.

8. Advocacy of harmony, tolerance, and acceptance of differing views.

9. In ethical matters, the criterion is the defense of individual rights to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, in controversial issues—such as corporal punishment of children, capital punishment, compulsory religious practice in schools, physician-assisted suicide, or consensual sexual relations—humanists defend positions that prioritize individual rights.

10. Defense of human rights: humanists are extensively active in areas such as human-rights organizations, prisoners’ rights, environmental protection, refugee protection, and humanitarian aid organizations such as the Red Cross and disaster-relief groups responding to earthquakes, floods, and similar crises.

11. Advocacy of democracy and opposition to dictatorship, religious rule, aristocratic governments, and racist regimes.

12. Advocacy of the separation of religion and politics. [3]

Continues…

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References

[1] Sane‘pur, Maryam. A Critique of Humanistic Epistemology, pp. 26–28. Institute for Culture and Contemporary Thought, Tehran, 1999.

[2] Qanbari, Ayat. A Critique of Liberalism and Humanism, p. 73. Faraz-Andisheh Publications, Qom, 2004. And Sane‘pur, Maryam. God and Religion in the Humanistic Perspective, p. 92. Institute for Culture and Contemporary Thought, Tehran, 2002.

[3] Ibid.