A term which stresses an attitude/philosophy having the importance of human interests, i.e. history, poetry, culture and moral philosophy, at its centerpoint.
A viewpoint that existed during the Renaissance. It emphasized four themes: Individualism, a personal realtionship with God, interest in classical wisdom, and a negative attitude toward Aristotle's philosophy.
a system or attitude in thought, religion, etc. in which human ideals and the perfection of human personality are made central. The emphasis is on human interests rather than on religion or the world of nature.
A naturalistic philosophy that stresses ethics based on human needs and well being.
the doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare
the doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural
the cultural movement of the Renaissance; based on classical studies
1. devotion to the humanities; also: ther evival of classical letters charicteristic of the Renaissance 2. a doctrine or way of life centered on human interests or values
Emphasising human dignity and achievements in this world rather than inherent immorality and the afterlife of the spirit.
The new emphasis on the works and worth of men and women associated with the early modern period, which included a special concern with the Greek and Latin classics by authors such as Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and the Greek dramatists. The Greek writers were virtually unknown during the Middle Ages. The humanist movement was especially associated with the Dutch writer Desiderius Erasmus, who was well known in England. Humanist writers focused on the achievements and possibilities of men rather than on abstract issues of theology associated with the medieval period.
The intellectual, scientific, and literary movement of the 14th to 16th centuries which exalted Greek and Roman culture and learning
A philosophical system of thought which focuses on the values, needs, and interests of human beings utilizing rationality without recourse to gods or deities, religions, or sacred texts.
The view that "mankind is the measure of all things." Something's value or significance is measured by its relationship to mankind. Humanism is essentially an attempt to construct a non-theistic system of beliefs and values.
a philosophical orientation to education which holds that the purpose of education is to enhance personal growth and development. This growth of this philosophy among educator led to a swing from teacher-centred to learner-centred learning environments. Related terms/concepts include: learner-centredness, transformational learning, and facilitated learning. top of the page
a system of thought based on the nature, dignity, interests, and ideals of man; specifically, a modern, nontheistic, rationalistic movement that holds man supreme and capable of self-fulfillment, ethical conduct, etc., without recourse to supernaturalism.
(1) a philosophy or system of thought that begins with man alone in an attempt to determine a unified meaning of life, (2) a philosophy or system of thought beginning with man alone, with particular emphasis on a generalized, but empirically baseless, optimism and hope for mankind’s future.
a mode of thought, philosophy, or action that asserts the dignity and worth of human life.
A term often used in a very broad sense to denote the affirmation of the value and dignity of human beings; in a more restricted sense, one referring to a cultural and intellectual movement, beginning in the Renaissance, and animated by a specific image of human beings. Consciousness, autonomy (i.e., freedom from the constraints of tradition and the will of tyrants), individuality, and control over nature are among the most salient features of this image.
The parent philosophy of positivism which is the parent philosophy of Abortionism. The philosophy based on the principle that man is the measure of all things.
World view in which Man, his needs, perceptions, and dignity, is considered to be the central focus of Philosophy and Life. The Italian Renaissance and the 18th century were eras dominated by humanism.
The system of philosophy based upon human reason, actions, and motives without concern of deity or supernatural phenomena.
Literary, cultural, and philosophical movement centered on human value and achievements.
Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality. See also the Amsterdam Declaration. See also: humanist
Focus on humankind as center of intellectual and artistic endeavor; method of study that emphasized the superiority of classical forms over medieval styles, in particular the study of ancient languages. (p. 524)
The view that “mankind is the measure of all things.” To invest mankind with supreme value.
In the strict sense of the word, an intellectual movement linked with the European Renaissance. At the heart of the movement lay, not (as the modern sense of the word might suggest) a set of secular or secularizing ideas, but a new interest in the cultural achievements of antiquity. These were seen as a major resource for the renewal of European culture and Christianity during the period of the Renaissance.
A cultural and intellectual movement during the Renaissance, following the rediscovery of the art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome. A philosophy or attitude concerned with the interests, achievements, and capabilities of human beings rather than with the abstract concepts and problems of theology or science.
A philosophy that places faith in the dignity of humankind and rejects the medieval perception of the individual as a weak, fallen creature. "Humanists" typically believe in the perfectibility of human nature and view reason and education as the means to that end. Humanist thought is represented in the works of Marsilio Ficino, Ludovico Castelvetro, Edmund Spenser, John Milton, Dean John Colet, Desiderius Erasmus, John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Matthew Arnold, and Irving Babbitt.
Humanism is a comprehensive life stance that upholds human reason, ethics, and justice, and rejects supernaturalism, pseudoscience and superstition. This article uses the words Humanism and Humanist (with a capital 'H' and no adjective such as "secular"http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/DoerrND02.htm) to refer to the life stance and its adherents, and humanism (with a small 'h') to refer to other related movements or philosophies. While this convention is not universal among all Humanists, it is used by a significant number of them, and for purposes of this article, helps distinguish between Humanism as a life stance and other forms of humanism.
