Humanism is one of the most important concepts that emerged in the modern period, and many ideologies like Individualism and Liberalism are based upon it. Humanism stands for giving importance to the man as a man, as a human being to man’s individuality, his personality, faith in his wisdom and rationality, his ability and capability.
Meaning
Man is the central point of Humanism. It stresses that man should be treated and given importance as a human being, as a man, not simply as a member of the group like church or the state. It believes in the wisdom of man, his rationality, his discretion, his ability and capability to think and take decisions. It advocates for giving maximum freedom to man for realising his fullest development and the government should remove all those obstacles that stand in the way. Humanism considers the state as a human institution, not as a divine institution and that it is a means of man’s development. It stands for freedom of thought, conscience and worship and is opposed to any effort or step to impose any particular religion or system of worship or any political belief or ideology on him. It stresses that man should have liberty to decide himself about all these and all human problems should be solved in rational ways.
Thus Humanism is a system of thought or way of thinking which gives importance to man as a human being. It identifies man as a human being, an independent identity not simply as a part of some groups like society, state or church and has faith in the wisdom, rationality, discretion, ability and capability of the human beings and lays emphasis that man has rights and liberties to act according to his beliefs, ideas and judgement in human matters particularly of thought, conscience and efforts for the realisation of his best development.
Main characteristics
The concept of Humanism emerged in the modern period of history. Modern age is also called the Age of Humanism. It is also called Scientific Age because in the modern period scientific and rational methods are used to solve human problems.
Following are the main characteristics of Humanism :
Importance to Man as a Human Being : It is the most important feature of Humanism that it attaches importance to man as a man, as a human being and is opposed to treat the man simply as a member of some group like society, state or church. It has faith in the man’s wisdom, ability of rational thinking and capability of taking decisions about his own affairs, about his welfare and possesses a personality and independent existence apart for the groups. He is not like a part of a machine which acts according the mechanism set in the machine. In the medieval ages no importance was attached to the man as a man, he was treated only a part of the group and the groups took decisions about all the matters pertaining to the man. Humanism opposed this and advocated for importance, rights and liberties of the man.
Faith in the Wisdom and Rationality of Man : In the medieval ages it was believed that man has no wisdom, ability or capability to think and decide on his own matters. It was believed that the groups could take a better decision But Humanism opposed it and believes that every man has wisdom, rational thinking ability to argue and judge better about his own affairs and has also capability to act independently. Humanism believes that the man can judge his own interests in a better way and by doing so can realise his best self in comparison to the decisions taken by others. Thus Humanism stands for freedom of man in his own affairs.
Faith in Man’s Virtues and Goodness : In the medieval ages it was believed that man does not possess virtues and goodness and if left alone he would prove an evil for himself as well as for the society. But Humanism stands for all virtues and goodness in the man. Man is good by nature and in the atmosphere of freedom his inherent qualities develop. Thus every man has a right and should be provided with opportunities for development of his inherent qualities. Man can play important role in the maintenance of peace and security of the society if he is given right atmosphere.
Faith in the Ability and Capability of Man : Humanism stands for Ability and Capability of ordinary man. It does not believe that ability and capabilities are the monopoly of a few highly placed either in the political sphere or in the church. Humanism stands on the faith that every man has ability and capability to decide about his welfare and make efforts to achieve it. He should be provided with proper atmosphere to exercise his ability and capability. In the modern age man has acquired tremendous achievements on the basis of these qualities in the field of scientific inventions, discoveries of new horizons and countries, industrialisation, whereas no such progress could be made when the man was under the control of the feudal lords and the church.
Faith in Man’s Freedom : Humanism stands for liberty of man in almost all fields of life. Freedom is the birth right of the man and he was free in the state of nature. He has the freedom to make efforts for the fullest development of his life. The state or the church has no authority and justification to put undesirable restrictions on the activities of man or to exercise uncontrolled authority over him. Man must think and decide himself about his good or bad and act accordingly. In society he must possess certain rights and liberties like freedom of thought and expression, freedom profession, freedom of movement, freedom to form associations and adopt any religion.
Faith in Man’s Freedom of Belief, Faith and Worship : Humanism advocates that man has freedom of faith, belief and worship and that he cannot be bound by the state or the society to adopt and practise any particular religion or to act upon a particular way of worship. The state cannot impose religious beliefs on the man. It also advocates that man has the freedom of contesting and challenging the religious rules. Humanism is a revolution against the supremacy of the Pope and monopoly of Church on religious matters. Humanists attacked the corruption prevailing in the church, luxurious life led by the priests and traditional approach of the church.
State is a Human Institution : Humanism does not agree with the divine nature of the state and the absolute divine powers of the king. Humanism believes that the state is a human institution and its aim is the welfare of the people. The king’s powers have been given to him by the people and he cannot exercise them arbitrarily or against the welfare of the people. The king possesses no absolute power and has to exercise his authority for man’s welfare. Laws should reflect the opinion and demands of the people. Humanists opposed the Divine Rights of the King.
Encouragement to Scientific, Inquisitive and Rational Thinking : Humanism opposed that the people should follow blindly the dictates of the political authority or of the church. It advocates that people should possess inquistic, rational and scientific way of thinking and taking decisions. ‘Before following a principle it should he thoroughly inquired into, debated over’ its ins and outs thoroughly discussed and only thereafter it should be accepted and followed. It advocates for a scientific outlook. No principle should be followed simply because it is based upon tradition. No principle should be forcibly imposed upon man. Humanism is a revolution against the dictatorial authority of the Church in the middle ages when man was supposed to follow the dictates of the church blindly and was not allowed to think whether it is good or bad, is useful or not.
Humanism Advocates for Active Mind : Humanism believes that the man must have an active mind. When a man acts blindly on the dictates given by others and is not required to apply his mind over its authenticity, usefulness or otherwise, his mind becomes dull and stops thinking. Mind loses argumentative and inquisitive quality. Man therefore is supposed to keep his mind active otherwise his argumentative thinking and decision taking quality become dead and he becomes like a part of some mechanism.
Emphasis on some Common Human Needs : Humanists believe that all human beings have some common needs and common problems. It means all men have some common qualities and common features such as every man needs bread, clothing and shelter. Every man has social instincts. Every man is social as well as selfish by nature. Every man needs protection of life, development of life, secrecy of family life etc. Thus it is desirable that such common needs be studied and tackled in a rational and human way.
Emphasis on Rational Solution of Human Problems : Humanism stands for solution of human problems not by any divine authority or some supernatural power. Human problems can be solved in a better way through rational methods. They should be viewed according to the existing circumstances and should not be solved through the divine methods or methods explained in religious books. In medieval ages human problems and needs were not examined in a rational way or according to circumstances prevailing at the time, but were solved according to religious principles. Human problems need solution in rational and scientific ways and after thorough discussions and inquiries.
Role of Human Feelings and Aspirations in Society : Humanism believes that the human feelings and aspirations have bearing on the happenings in the society. Whatever the members of the society feel, think and aspire for, influence the social, economic and political conditions of the society. Therefore these can not be ignored and must be duly taken note of the cared. They shape the customs and traditions of the society. Man therefore cannot be ignored and the laws of the state should be enacted in accordance with these feelings and aspirations.
Importances of Social and Moral Values : Humanism emphasize that social and moral values have their importance since they are the outcome of human feelings and aspirations. They should be properly studied and cared for by the political authority in the exercise of power.
Humanism is a Fight Against Traditional Values : Humanism does not support traditionalism and is a fight against traditional values. No principle should be enforced or obeyed simply because it is based upon tradition. Just possible it might have lost its usefulness with the passage of time. Every principle should be thoroughly examined before it is enforced or obeyed. It should be accepted only after it has established its usefulness.
Constitutional and Limited Government : Humanists believes in a constitutional and limited government because only in such a system man can be given importance, freedom and rights. Humanism emerged as a protest against the arbitrariness of the feudal lords and the church over man. In an absolute government no importance is attached to the man, to the individual, his rights and liberties. A constitutional and limited government is based upon the importance of man in the governance.
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