Humanly Possible

1. Humanism: Centering Life on the Human Dimension

Man is the measure of all things.

Focus on human experience. Humanism, in its various forms across centuries and cultures, consistently places the human dimension of life at its core. This means prioritizing human experiences, thoughts, feelings, and relationships over abstract doctrines or supernatural concerns. It's about valuing what it means to be human in this world.

Multiple meanings, shared focus. The term "humanism" encompasses diverse activities, from Renaissance literary studies (studia humanitatis) to modern non-religious ethics. Despite these differences, all humanists share a common thread: they look to humanity as the primary source of meaning, morality, and understanding.

• Literary humanists studied human culture (art, history, language).
• Ethical humanists base morals on empathy and reason, not divine command.
• Philosophical humanists put the living person at the center of inquiry.

Taking human things seriously. Protagoras's ancient idea that "Man is the measure of all things" can be interpreted not as arrogance, but as a recognition that our reality is experienced in a human-shaped way. Humanists take human concerns seriously, believing that what matters most to us is found in our earthly lives and interactions.

2. Renaissance Humanism: Rekindling Ancient Light Through Books

They speak with us, advise us and join us together with a certain living and penetrating intimacy.

Rediscovering a lost past. The Renaissance humanists of 14th-century Italy, like Petrarch and Boccaccio, felt they lived in a "dark age" and sought to revive the wisdom and eloquence of classical antiquity. They dedicated themselves to finding, copying, editing, and studying ancient Greek and Roman texts. This pursuit of the studia humanitatis became their defining way of life.

Books as companions. For these early humanists, ancient authors were not just subjects of study but felt like personal friends and mentors. They corresponded with them across centuries through their writings, finding comfort, inspiration, and guidance in their words.

• Petrarch collected manuscripts obsessively, copying them by hand.
• Boccaccio became the first serious scholar of Dante.
• They pioneered sensitive editing to restore corrupted texts.

Eloquence and virtue. These humanists believed that studying classical literature, especially rhetoric, cultivated not just good writing and speaking skills but also moral virtue. Eloquence was seen as a powerful tool for persuasion and for shaping a more civilized life, as exemplified by Cicero.

3. Humanism vs. Anti-Humanism: A Constant Struggle

O the vile ignobility of human existence! O the ignoble condition of human vileness!

A shadow tradition. Alongside humanism, there has always run an "anti-humanist" tradition that emphasizes human failings, misery, and inadequacy. This view often argues for turning away from the earthly world or radically transforming humanity, rather than celebrating or improving it as it is.

Contempt for the world. Anti-humanists, like Pope Innocent III in his treatise "On the Misery of Man," depict human life as base and contemptible, focusing on physical unpleasantness and moral weakness. This perspective often serves to humble humanity and redirect focus towards a divine realm or a transcendent ideal.

• Innocent III described humans as lumps of slime and dust.
• He saw earthly achievements as pointless vanity.
• He argued that real life was about seeking redemption.

Transcendent ideals vs. human reality. Anti-humanism can manifest in religious or secular forms, but it consistently prioritizes a grander concept (God, the State, Ideology) over the liberty, conscience, and well-being of actual human beings. It seeks to overrule ordinary human values with the promise of something higher, often leading to repression and suffering.

4. Critical Inquiry: Questioning Authority and Seeking Truth

Dispute and contradiction, not veneration and obedience, are the essence of intellectual life.

Challenging received wisdom. A core principle of humanism is the commitment to critical thinking and inquiry, refusing to accept ideas solely based on authority or tradition. Humanists apply reason and evidence to question established texts, doctrines, and claims, even those considered sacred or beyond doubt.

Philology as a weapon. Renaissance humanists like Lorenzo Valla used their expertise in language and history to expose forgeries and errors in revered documents. Valla's debunking of the Donation of Constantine demonstrated that even powerful claims to authority could crumble under scholarly scrutiny.

• Valla analyzed the Latin of the Donation, finding anachronisms.
• He questioned the historical plausibility of the document.
• He argued that intellectual life thrives on questioning predecessors.

Beyond texts to the world. This spirit of inquiry extended beyond ancient texts to the natural world. Humanists like Niccolò Leoniceno argued that one should use one's senses and reason to investigate "things themselves," not just rely on old books, especially when dealing with matters of health and life.

5. Finding Humanity Amidst Suffering and Loss

Where death delights in helping life.

Facing disaster. Humanists have often grappled with immense suffering and loss, from the Black Death in the 14th century to wars and genocides in later eras. These experiences challenged optimistic views of human progress and the power of human arts and sciences.

Finding meaning in connection. Despite devastation, humanists found ways to affirm the value of human life and connection. They used literature, philosophy, and personal relationships as sources of consolation and resilience.

• Petrarch wrote moving letters and dialogues on loss and fortune.
• Boccaccio's Decameron is set during the plague, highlighting human stories.
• The motto of the Padua anatomy theater captured the idea of finding purpose in death.

The human response. Faced with the breakdown of social order or the limits of knowledge, humanists observed the complex reality of human behavior, noting both selfishness and acts of courage and kindness. They sought to understand and articulate the human experience in its entirety, finding dignity even in vulnerability.

6. Expanding the Human Sphere: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion

The proper sphere for all human beings is the largest and highest which they are able to attain to.

Challenging limitations. Historically, humanism often applied its ideals of dignity and potential only to a narrow segment of humanity, typically educated white men. However, the core humanistic principles of universality and individual worth inherently challenge such limitations. Later humanists and those influenced by humanism actively worked to expand this "proper sphere" to all people.

Fighting for equal humanity. Thinkers and activists argued that arbitrary factors like gender, race, class, or sexuality should not restrict anyone's ability to develop their full human potential.

• Christine de Pizan and Mary Wollstonecraft argued for women's education and full human virtues.
• Frederick Douglass used eloquence to assert the universal humanity of enslaved people.
• Harriet Taylor Mill championed the right of all individuals to pursue their highest potential.

Diversity as a strength. This expansion of the human sphere recognizes that universal humanity is expressed through immense diversity. Respecting and celebrating these differences enriches the human experience and strengthens the bonds of connection between people.

7. Education: Unfolding Humanity from Its Seeds

It lies in the humanity, and it is our business to unfold humanity from its seeds.

Cultivating potential. Humanists across the ages have emphasized the crucial role of education in developing human potential. They see education not merely as acquiring skills, but as a process of nurturing the inherent capacities ("seeds") within each individual to become a fully realized human being.

Beyond rote learning. Humanistic education aims for a broad, well-rounded development (Bildung), encompassing intellectual, moral, and cultural growth. It encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning, rather than passive memorization or narrow specialization.

• Erasmus advocated for civilized manners and a richly stocked mind.
• Wilhelm von Humboldt designed a system focused on individual development and freedom.
• Matthew Arnold promoted access to "the best which has been thought and said."

Freedom and responsibility. This approach often links education to freedom, believing that individuals flourish best when allowed to explore and develop their interests. However, it also stresses the responsibility that comes with this freedom, aiming to cultivate individuals who contribute positively to society.

8. Enlightenment Humanism: Cultivating Reason, Progress, and Happiness

We must cultivate our garden.

Improving the human condition. The Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century, or lumières, shared the humanist focus on this world and humanity, but added a strong emphasis on reason, science, and the possibility of progress. They believed that applying rational thought and scientific understanding could alleviate suffering and improve human life.

Meliorism and action. Unlike philosophies that saw suffering as part of a divine plan or inevitable fate, Enlighteners were meliorists, believing the world could be made better through human effort. Voltaire's call to "cultivate our garden" is a metaphor for this pragmatic approach to improving our immediate surroundings and lives.

• They championed scientific inquiry and technological innovation (like inoculation).
• They advocated for tolerance and criticized religious fanaticism.
• They sought to base morality on human fellow feeling and reason.

Challenging dogma and authority. Like earlier humanists, Enlighteners questioned religious and political authorities that restricted freedom and reason. They faced persecution for their views, but their ideas spread, laying foundations for modern liberal and secular societies.

9. Scientific Humanism: Integrating Science and Naturalism

Agnosticism... an openness to the fact that we do not know, followed by intellectually honest enquiry in full receptivity of mind.

Science and self-understanding. The scientific discoveries of the 19th century, particularly Darwin's theory of evolution, profoundly impacted how humanists understood humanity's place in the universe. Scientific humanism emerged, integrating scientific reasoning and a naturalistic worldview into the humanist framework.

Reason and modesty. Figures like T. H. Huxley championed scientific inquiry as a foundation for education and critical thinking. Agnosticism, as defined by Huxley, embodies this approach: acknowledging the limits of human knowledge while remaining committed to honest investigation and reason.

• Darwin explored the natural origins of human morality in social feelings.
• Leslie Stephen found a sense of duty and meaning without religious belief.
• Scientific inquiry was seen as a way to challenge irrational beliefs and stimulate imagination.

Humanity as part of nature. This perspective sees humans not as separate from the natural world, but as part of it, a product of natural processes. It encourages understanding ourselves through scientific means while still valuing the unique aspects of human consciousness, culture, and morality.

10. Modern Humanism: Organizing for Action and Hope

Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so.

From individuals to organizations. While humanism historically existed more as an intellectual stance or way of life for individuals, the 20th century saw the rise of organized humanist groups. These organizations sought to promote humanist values publicly and work towards social change.

Manifestos and shared values. Humanist manifestos, like the first in 1933 and later versions, articulate core humanist principles, emphasizing ethics, reason, personal fulfillment, and social responsibility. They provide a framework for diverse humanists to unite around shared goals.

• Promoting civil liberties and social justice.
• Advocating for secularism and challenging blasphemy laws.
• Working for equal rights for all, regardless of background.

A positive vision. Modern humanism is characterized by a positive outlook, focusing on the potential for human flourishing and the possibility of creating a better world through collective effort. Robert G. Ingersoll's credo encapsulates this focus on present happiness and the importance of making others happy.

11. The Human Face: Kindness and Resilience Amidst Barbarism

This kindness, this stupid kindness, is what is most truly human in a human being.

Facing the worst. The 20th century witnessed unprecedented levels of barbarism, from world wars and the Holocaust to totalitarian regimes and genocides. These horrors severely tested humanist beliefs in human goodness and progress, leading some to question the very possibility of humanism.

Resilience and resistance. Despite despair, humanists and those embodying humanist values demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage. They worked to preserve human dignity, resist oppression, and rebuild cultural and social life.

• Benedetto Croce defied Fascism from his home.
• Thomas Mann broadcast anti-Nazi messages from exile.
• Aby Warburg's library was rescued and rebuilt in London.

Finding the core of humanity. Amidst destruction, writers like Vasily Grossman found the essence of humanity not in grand ideologies but in simple acts of kindness and fellow feeling. This "stupid kindness" became a symbol of resistance against dehumanization and a source of hope.

12. The Ongoing Project: Cultivating Happiness Here and Now

I was not wrong in thinking that such a world is possible, and that it is worth while to live with a view to bringing it nearer.

A continuous effort. Humanism is not a static doctrine but an ongoing project of understanding and improving the human condition. It involves continuous inquiry, adaptation to new knowledge, and persistent effort to address the challenges facing humanity.

Building a better world. From advocating for human rights and social justice to promoting education and environmental sustainability, humanists work towards creating a world where individuals can flourish and live happily. This involves both challenging harmful systems and cultivating positive values.

• Advocating for human rights and secular laws.
• Promoting critical thinking and scientific literacy.
• Working for peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding.

Hope in human potential. Despite setbacks and the ever-present possibility of human folly, the humanist vision remains hopeful. It trusts in the capacity of human beings, through reason, empathy, and collective action, to navigate challenges and build a more just, compassionate, and fulfilling world, here on Earth.

Last updated: May 4, 2025