Comment

Comment by Johnny on November 28, 2009 at 8:26pm

sorry about the confusion. it's rather like you asking me what a religion is. they're so different and so varied. i responded based on what you likely saw here when someone says 'im a humanist'

Comment by Johnny on November 28, 2009 at 8:07pm

well, in this case, my definition of reason is using critical thinking to analyze perspectives in order to establish their credibility and then using that knowledge to apply it to our own lives.

why wouldn't someone want to label themselves a humanist?

its....not simply a debating club... more or less, my view of secular humanism (different than generic humanism) is where I evaluate traditional morals (don't kill, don't lie, don't steal) and analyze them from a logical standpoint to find out where I stand. Debating is an aspect of secular humanism, but humanism itself (including religious humanism) is simply "working to promote the good mankind." It's often pursued through charity and love.

Of course, the means by which one pursues what is "good" for mankind is very relative and each humanist group pursues it in different ways. There are many many different kinds of humanism so my definition is neccessarily over-generalized.

as to your third question, i'm sure that there are secular humanist groups, but atheists aren't too popular here in the U.S. I get a lot of my humanists debates right here on A/N.

Comment by lordmetroid on November 28, 2009 at 4:25pm

Why would one want to label oneself as a humanist?

Is the humanist association simply a debating club?
Where humanist gather and debates philosophy?
Tell me more what you consider to be reason?

Comment by Johnny on November 28, 2009 at 3:59pm

Basically, secular humanism is not a "cure all" philosophy. secular humanists are willing to admit that they are wrong and adjust based on what logically benefits society and individuals and brings peace.

Most everyone must pursue morals in some way in order to feel comfortable. Secular humansists find their morality through debate and self-correcting processes.

Comment by Johnny on November 28, 2009 at 3:56pm

I never said that they aren't all subjective. I said that it is pursued by pursuing rational ethics that are derived using reason. No reason why we can't debate ethics and justice within humanism.

How is reason subjective? The individual pursuit is and the things that people bring to conversations are, but the pursuit of reasoning is trying to get rid of personal bias and pursue relative truth.

Comment by lordmetroid on November 28, 2009 at 3:22pm

Reason, ethics and justice, they are all subjective...
What kind of philosophy do you base your ethics upon? Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Nihilism, Existentialism, etc.. Do you support crime syndicates, state apparatuses, voluntary interactions and/or solidarity with your peers, etc.?

As for when you state reason, what do you even mean by that word? Do you try to apply the scientific method to everything, even when the scientific method is inappropriate for the task, a kind of scientism? Or do you have a reason for living.

The buzz word "Humanist philosophy", doesn't say me anything, could you please explain to me what "secular humanism" is? Are you indiscriminately humane?

Comment by Johnny on November 28, 2009 at 1:46pm

the term you should look up is "secular humanism." it's what many of us ally with.

it's a humanist philosophy that espouses reason, ethics, and justice, and specifically rejects the supernatural and religious dogma as the basis of morality and decision-making

Comment by Johnny on November 28, 2009 at 1:45pm

good point, however this is quite different. You should both see how they describe themselves and how others describe them.

I'd say most of us here are humanists. Even many theists are "religious humanists". Humanism in a nutshell is basically valuing your fellow man/woman and working to support each other by benefitting mankind and working towards our progress as a species.

Comment by lordmetroid on November 28, 2009 at 12:02pm

I am not going to read the source, if you want to know what a republican, democrat or libertarian is you do not go to the parties and read their propaganda that doesn't fit with the practice.