A belief or attitude that values human beings, their reason, and their needs, often focusing on human welfare rather than religion or the supernatural.
From “human” plus the suffix “-ism,” popularized in the 19th century. It also connects to Renaissance “studia humanitatis,” the study of literature, history, and moral philosophy.
Humanism puts humans at the center of the story, not gods or fate. It’s the idea that we are responsible for making life meaningful and fair, which is both empowering and a bit scary.
Humanism historically centered on ‘man’ as the measure of all things, often literally focusing on educated, property-owning men and marginalizing women and other groups. Feminist critiques have highlighted how early humanist canons excluded women’s voices and experiences from what counted as ‘universal’ human concerns.
When using ‘humanism,’ clarify that ‘human’ includes all genders and acknowledge the need to broaden whose experiences define human values and rights.
["inclusive humanism","feminist humanism","secular humanism"]
Women philosophers, writers, and activists have expanded humanist thought to include gender equality, reproductive autonomy, and care work as central human concerns, even when omitted from mainstream histories of humanism.
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