Toward A New Political Humanism
Books / Hardcover
Books › Political Science › Public Policy › General
ISBN: 1591022711 / Publisher: Prometheus, September 2004
Seidman and Murphy, who produce a humanist-based radio program, offer a collection of writings by prominent humanists who advocate reactivating the principles of the Enlightenment and applying humanism to political action. Contributions include a condensed version of the 2000 Humanist Manifesto, articles about applying humanist ethics to politics and then putting those politics into practice, creating a political humanism around the world, replacing nationalism with humanism in the UN, and repositioning humanism to better support secularism, the sciences and like-minded political interest groups. The authors include a list of further reading but not an index. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read More
In an age when religious (and other) fundamentalisms have made powerful inroads into the political arena secular humanism has an especially important role to play, not just in promoting its ideas but also in converting those ideas into political action. This is the unifying theme of this thoughtful collection of articles by leading humanists, all of whom are already engaged in putting humanist ideals into practice. The editors and contributors alike contend that the time is ripe to go beyond traditional humanist issues regarding religion and superstition to develop an all-encompassing political platform based on the humanist life stance. This should include both political and economic agendas. Toward this goal the authors in this volume offer real-world humanist solutions born out of progressive politics.Among the topics discussed are: the beginnings of modern political humanism, rediscovering Enlightenment ideals, humanist ethics as a basis for activism, secular humanism and liberal perspectives, separation of church and state, a humanist economics, the role of political humanism in America, identity politics from a humanist perspective, humanism’s influence on woman’s changing role, gay rights, George W. Bush’s antihumanist policies, patriotism and humanism, humanism as an antidote to nationalism and as the backbone of a new United Nations, prospects for a global humanism, humanist movements in New Zealand, Nigeria, and the Middle East, humanist solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, humanism as the foundation for human rights and international peace, policy implications of the humanist commitment to science, and other stimulating topics.Unique in its focus on the need for political, economic, and social action, this outstanding collection contains many new ideas and lays the groundwork for a humanist agenda in the 21st century.
Read Less