On Humanism

by Richard Norman

humanism /' n. an outlook or system of thought concerned with human rather than divine or supernatural matters.

Albert Einstein, Isaac Asimov, E.M. Forster, Bertrand Russell, and Gloria Steinem all declared themselves humanists. What is humanism and why does it matter? Is there any doctrine every humanist must hold? If it rejects religion, what does it offer in its place? Have the twentieth century's crimes against humanity spelled the end for humanism?

On Humanism is a timely and powerfully argued philosophical defence of humanism. It is also an impassioned plea that we turn to ourselves, not religion, if we want to answer Socrates' age-old what is the best kind of life to lead? Although humanism has much in common with science, Richard Norman shows that it is far from a denial of the more mysterious, fragile side of being human. He deals with big questions such as the environment, Darwinism and 'creation science', euthanasia and abortion, and then argues that it is ultimately through the human capacity for art, literature and the imagination that humanism is a powerful alternative to religious belief.

Drawing on a varied range of examples from Aristotle to Primo Levi and the novels of Virginia Woolf and Graham Swift, On Humanism is a lucid and much needed reflection on this much talked about but little understood phenomenon.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion

184 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2004

Reviews

[Imlac · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning of the final chapter of this short book Richard Norman confesses:

Looking back on the previous chapters, I cannot escape the feeling that everything that I have said is obvious. Certainly there is nothing philosophically innovative about it.

I was relieved to read this, because that was exactly the feeling I had after reading those four chapters. He discusses Religion and arguments for the existence of God, Science and objectivity, Theories of Nature and Human Nature, and finally Morality - all with the expected theses, distinctions and arguments.

But then in his Chapter Five he undertakes a deep, wise and inspiring meditation on The Meaning of Life and the Need for Stories. The prime source of meaning, according to Norman, is art, and his discussion of this is sensitive and compelling. Using Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse and Graham Swift's Waterland, he shows how art and aesthetic experience can give us a sense of the real meaning of life. He does mention other sources (creativity, discovery, social relationships, emotions, beauty), but he reserves the central place for literary narrative, which he argues has the power to give unity to chaos and randomness.

Norman does recognize that this meaning, not being religious or transcendent but humanistic, is fragile, provisional and particular. It is fleeting and easily lost. But he claims that these are inalienable aspects of human life, which is liable to fall into brokenness, misery, and failure.

A convincing, profound and unsentimental account.

[Alexand · Rating 4 out of 5]

ممكن ما حسيت اني قريت لشخص يشبه ارائي مثل ريتشارد نورمان , و فكره الانساني تشابه مرعب لدرجة كنت متوقع ايش الجواب ممكن و الصحيح
ممكن فقط في قضية الانجاب و تفريقه للهويات الانسانية و خاصة اجد ان الاجهاض لا يتوافق مع فكرة حب الحياة , و قيمة الانسان
هو يقول ان الجسم وقت البويضة مختلف لكن ينسى نورمان ان الغاية و المعرفة المستقبلية موجودة وقت الاجهاض انا ادرك من خلال عملية اجهاضي
اقتل انسان كان المفروض يكون موجود لا تدخل القضية مثل ما هو يقول في موضوع التوقع فقط بل معرفية حقيقة لدينا على تواجد مخلوق حي مستقبلي

بخصوص قضية الفن وجدت وجهة نظره و سؤاله عن الفن هو سؤال جوهري و ناقش القضية بدون اي قتل للفن و هو لا يعطي جواب للفن بشكل مطلق لكن للفن السردي على الخوص و من خلال نقدر نفهم فكرته و هي ان نحن نعيش داخل سرديات بالحقيقة و وجهة نظره هي نفس وجهة نظري ان الكتب المقدسة في الاخير روايات بمعنى فن لهذا تمتلك فكرة العيش داخله , الانسان يعيش داخل الفن و يفسر العالم من خلال سرديات فنية يستحيل على الانسان ان يعيش بدون فن هذا الشيء مستحيل نحن نقرا عالمنا و نناقش و نتخيل من انمي او فيلم او اغنية او روايات دينية بمعنى لا نفك من عالم الفن و السرديات و الموسيقى تأطر مشاعرنا و الهالات المقدسة للشيء بكل تجلي و حضور نحن لا نستطيع تخيل الدولة بدون نشيده الوطني و لا الجيش بدون الموسيقى العسكرية و لا الطقس الديني بدون الاصوات البشرية فكل شيء يتعلق بالفن و حتى المباني و العامرة هي تدخل بهذا الفن و هذي الروية و تجعلنا نريد ان نزور منطقة فقط حتى نسكتكشف المكان
فالانسان بستغلاله للقوة الفنية قد يصبح رمزية مقدسة مثل رمزية الانبياء و كيف الي يومنا تسطير علينا يمكن فهم الفن و ادواته يحررنا من الخطابات الدينية و ايت شيء يسيطر علينا

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book about humanism which I really enjoyed. Norman goes in for labels more than I tend to, but I learned quite a bit about the muddle of unanswerable questions that trouble most human beings at one point or another in their lives - and the various possible answers often proposed.

My favorite part of the book was when Norman discussed the importance of narrative art - which is my particular fancy.

"They have what I want to call paradigmatic particularity. With this phrase I want to capture the combination of the two facts: (1) that fictional narratives provide 'paradigms', examples or patterns which are generalizable and can illuminate and make sense of our own experience, but (2) that they can do so only because they are stories about particular individuals, and because this is what makes them convincing and brings them to life. This paradigmatic particularity, I am suggesting, is the distinctive feature of the arts, and it is why their capacity to give meaning to our lives does not make them replaceable and potentially redundant. It is what makes art art."

Norman deals with the controversies surrounding humanism and neatly dispatches many of them. Overall I recommend this thoughtful book for anyone interested in the topic.

[Jesse Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. An examination of contemporary issues in Humanism, contrasting secularism with religion/religionists. Surprising, too, that almost no mention of the history of Humanism in the earliest days of the Renaissance as an inspiration carried forward from fundamental assumptions about what it means to be fully human. Instead, the author pits science against religion. In some instances, the contrast proves to illustrate defining characteristics. In other instances, it seems to chase arguments down rabbit holes in a combative tit-for-tat. Despite the somewhat narrow framing, from what little I know about organized humanism in the UK, the author made countless clear arguments for Humanism using a broad survey of literature, philosophy, science, and religious texts. Despite my occasional criticisms, it is a book I intend to share with friends and family for the value it brings to current moral and religious thought.

[Raya Al-Raddadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a philosophical defence of humanism, covering the history, philosophy, morality and meaning of humanism in which the author defines as "an attempt to think about how we should live without religion." Despite of its focus on science, Norman shows that this does not mean a denial of the more mysterious, fragile side of being human. Some of the significant issues he deals with are: nature and environment, science and religion, and consciousness and soul. The discussion of the humanist morality is very interesting, including examples of euthanasia and abortion. In Chapter Five Norman argues that the human capacity for art, literature and the imagination could be a powerful alternative to religious belief. I like the way he powerfully explains and develops his argument but sometimes I feel he is spending more time on criticizing religion rather than humanist views themselves.

[Marein Zwama · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Norman’s philosophical analysis and explanation on humanism is very powerful in one chapter and very lacking in the next. His usage of utilitarianism as a humanist philosophy is furthermore unconvincing to me. Nonetheless, some of the powerful quotes have stuck with my and I would recommend the book for these chapters, even when highly disagreeing with the foreword that this book should become ‘the unofficial manifesto of humanism’.

[Benoit Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Clear and precise prose. Rare expository talent.

[Kasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable introduction to humanism. I really enjoyed the parts of the book that debated anti-humanist trends; however, it could have discussed religion less extensively.

[Andy Connell]

Tapped out about halfway. Spent more time trying to disprove religion than actually talking about humanism. Cannot recommend if you're trying to find an entry point like I was.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads as a philosophical defence of humanism against religion and concerns itself more with demolishing religious arguments than with constructing an a priori humanistic philosophy. The final chapter, on finding meaning in life, is very intellectually-focused. The points about narrative and the way humans construct meaning out of stories are well put, but appealing to classic novels is not going to break ice with people who don't read them.

As a grounding in the philosophical arguments of humanism vs. religion, it is very complete and well constructed. As guidance on how to live a good life in the absence of religion, I think I would better refer to the works of Sir Terry Pratchett.

[Dylan Horrocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly this book irritated the hell out of me, but by doing so it clarified why the brand of secularism that relies on art to replace religion isn't for me.

On the other hand, at one point Norman observes in a casual aside that - of course - religion is after all an artistic creation. That paragraph burrowed into my brain and has been causing all sorts of helpful mischief ever since. As a lifelong atheist, I kind of knew that already. But I hadn't thought about it in quite the way Norman put it - and I'm very grateful to him for injecting a fruitful nuance into my thoughts on the subject.

[Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good little introduction to Humanism. I have ready many different books of this sort and this was one of the better ones. It focuses more on the philosophical and ethical reasons for humanism, rather than just simply the morals part. He does talk about morals often, but with philosophy leanings. He is very modest in his writing and gives many different viewpoints and other sides' arguments. It does well to give a good overall look at humanism and it's critics and other ways of thinking.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read, but I do think it spent a little too much time on
enumerating the issues with religious beliefs and not enough time on the
humanist views. This is personal preference, as some people may have been
looking for the religious coverage, but for me I don't really need convincing
about religion.

[Simon Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written account of the numerous facets of humanism. Illustrated the fact that humanism for each of us can be constructed from various philosophies and ways of looking at things. There is no central dogma and it's up to you how your humanism is formed. He gives a brief account of the most relevant issues and doesn't get bogged down while he does so.

[Lorraine Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is as if Richard Norman has taken my beliefs and put them into a book. An amazing answer to any one who says you have to be religous or believe in god to be moral or ethical.

[Emma Sea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me look at To the Lighthouse with new eyes.

[bepassersby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this.