Philosophy Stack Exchange
Philosophy Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [humanism]

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Does humanism's rejection of God necesitate relativism?

I had the following discussion on Programmers.SE: @Peter Turner, Which is a good example of how religion warps morality, leading people to imagine their concerns are moral when they are profoundly immoral. – TRiG @TRiG, Which is a good example of…
Peter Turner
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Where does 'continental' philosophy fit in the subcategories of modern philosophy?

If one considers a abstract systematization of what constitutes modern philosophy, it is very natural to come up with something like wikipedia's outline: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, political philosophy, philosophy of mind, and many…
Mitch
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Is Confucianism a humanism?

To what extent Confucianism is a humanism, in the Western meaning of the term? I propose to tackle this question by framing it this way: what are the similarities and differences between Confucianism and Western Humanism? By “Western Humanism” is…
Starckman
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Is tolerance for other cultures and peoples an essential trait of Western Humanism?

Is tolerance for other cultures (including religions) and peoples an essential trait of Western Humanism (by Western Humanism I mean here: Renaissance Humanism and Enlightenment humanism). By tolerance for other cultures (including religions), I…
Starckman
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Question on Thomas Hobbes De Ciev, Of Liberty

This mans will to hurt ariseth from Vain glory, and the false esteeme he hath of his owne strength; the other's, from the necessity of defending himselfe, his liberty, and his goods against this mans violence. (Chapter 1, Article 2) This is…
Renegade
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Is sophistry useful?

I read from Lazlo Versenyi's Socratic Humanism (p. 1-72, 1963). "The first part of this book offers a thoughtful and provocative defense of the Sophists" (D. A. Hyland, The Origin of Philosophy: Its Rise in Myth and the Pre-Socratics [1973], p.…
Darcy Davis
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Is there a secular argument for the immortality of the soul?

I was inspired by the following question, which is unfortunately on hold: Has the question of after-life been discussed in philosophy? There has also been some discussion about the general question of whether there is a secular argument for the soul…
yters
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Where exactly does the value of an individual human lie?

I mean to ask where the value of a human lies, not within the context of the universe but within the room of humanity. What exactly makes a human important? And, is it always something she puts out into the world?
icyrus
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Is harming others always considered bad?

Do any philosophers either explicitly avoid condemning harm, or condone it, especially harming others, in their ethics? Why do humans consider causing bad to others as bad and represent it as bad act ?
Amruth A
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What does the term "ego" really mean?

According to different sources and authors, ego is referred to as one's self-perception by one's self concept. It is sometimes considered as selfishism. But what can a person do that will not refer to self-X? I don't know if I am clear enough, but…
Gratien Asimbahwe
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Why do we want to be happy?

The question is really simple, but at the same time really deep. Why do we seek for a life that would make us happy? Why for example wouldn't we want to be sad? Or to be neither happy nor sad? Why do we want to have pleasure?
user8578
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Is human nature a problem for Marxists?

Is human nature a problem for Marxists? So I am very broadly speaking familiar with the idea that before the scientific phase of Marx's work he was more humanist, argued that human nature was being corrupted by capitalism. We are alienated from our…
user67155
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What is the difference between a "human being" and an "individual"?

What is the difference between a "human being" and an "individual"? I have the intuition that "human being" is more associated with concepts such as dignity, a recognition of the traits that make people humans; while "individual" is more associated…
Starckman
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How Humanism, the philosophy of the Enlightenment, and classical liberalism are related?

How Humanism (as the philosophical movement of the Renaissance historical period), the philosophy of the Enlightenment, and classical liberalism are related? I have some difficulties distinguishing them from one another, since they share many of…
Starckman
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Secular humanism and ethics

Concerning ethics, secular humanism is consequentialist ("Secular humanists hold that ethics is consequential, to be judged by results." [1]). It seems also to be epicurean ("Secular Humanism frames morality as not causing unnecessary pain, harm, or…
Starckman
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