Conference


What’s in a STEVE CHINN W


hat is essential to Humanism, and what does it entail? This is the


question addressed by Julian Baggini in his talk at the Society’s Conference on 15 October. I agree with JB on a number


of key points. First, the method he uses - to isolate the essence of Humanism, and then ask what that entails, or necessarily involves, in terms of positions and policies. Second, that existing definitions of Humanism tend towards loose thinking - particularly the Amsterdam Declaration, most of which can be agreed with by just about any decent human being. And third, that as Humanists, we ought to err on the side of believing as little as possible, rather than filling up the vacuum. However, in spite of all this, I still think that Julian defines the distinctive essence of Humanism too narrowly, and that when it is defined fully, it is seen that it is de facto denied by other life stances,


25


word?


Julian Baggini’s thought-provoking keynote speech at the 2011 HSS


Conference provoked much discussion. Here’s HSS Policy Officer’s considered reaction


Julian’s talk (and all the other Conference sessions) can be viewed at www.video3uk.com/ humanismscotland


and genuinely does entail (as opposed to merely imply) a range of positions and policies. So here is my substantiation for this claim:


What is the distinctive essence of Humanism?


* Many liberal- minded religious people would say that they agree with responsible autonomy, but de facto, by so saying, they contradict their own religious beliefs - in terms of these two starred points.


Here’s a proposal: Humanism recognises that this is the one life we know we have, and so insists that we are responsible for our actions, and the effects they have on others, in this life and world. Humanism understands that responsibility and freedom are two sides of the same coin, and so it regards respect for the autonomy of the human being as essential. Where autonomy is denied, the possibility of responsibility is removed. The distinctive essence of Humanism is, therefore, responsible


autonomy; and I think the meaning of this is: The exercise of self-ownership in a way that recognises that one’s fellow human beings also have self-ownership, and therefore that we are all entitled to freedom from unnecessary imposition.


Why is this distinctive versus other life stances?


I think it’s because it does not defer to any other realm or authority outside of ourselves*; refuses to impose values or beliefs*; ‘puts its faith’ in human beings; recognises the reality of human experience - that the exercise of individual and collective responsibility is essential to our co-existence; and offers an ideal to which we can all choose to aspire, as a way to resolve the mess and chaos of conflicting ideologies,


www.humanism-scotland.org.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32