Conference


excessive inequalities and self- interested behaviours.


What positions and policies does it entail?


When it is defined fully, it is seen that Humanism is de facto denied by other life stances, and genuinely does entail (as opposed to merely imply) a range of positions and policies


“ www.humanism-scotland.org.uk 26


The granting of responsible autonomy entails positions and policies with one essential quality: that they create possibilities for people to exercise their autonomy, responsibly. This means that they aim to establish choices, rather than obligations, and that where choices and obligations conflict, they favour choice. (This does not mean that there can’t also be policies that do establish obligations - such as the obligations to recycle rubbish, pay taxes, not play music too loud and so on - but it does mean that these are not matters of concern to us as


Humanists. They might, of course, be of concern to us as citizens). For example: Same sex marriage creates the possibility for two people of the same sex to exercise their autonomy, responsibly, by acting on their desire for a full marriage. It also establishes the obligation that others respect that choice, which some may not welcome, but the creation of the choice trumps the imposition of the obligation, because the choice exemplifies responsible autonomy.


Physician assisted suicide establishes the possibility to exercise one’s autonomy, responsibly - by ending one’s life when it has become genuinely intolerable. It may also create obligations for others who do not welcome them, but it’s hard to conceive of what they might be.


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