Lifestyle Book Reviews

Book Review: What is Secular Humanism?

By Sandy Amazeen Aug 20, 2007, 18:30 GMT

At a time when it seems that much of the world is caught up in religious fervor, it is easy to forget there are other viable, nonreligion-based systems to live by. Secular humanism dates back to early Greek philosophers who attempted to incorporate a rational, scientific approach to living an ethical life without invoking a supernatural agent. This slim volume, a mere 62 pages, touches on secular humanism’s early history with a nod to Socrates and Aristotle before moving to fourteenth century thinkers like Galileo Galilei and later, such well respected names as Thomas Jefferson. The six main characteristics of secular humanism paradigm are explained including some thought provoking insights into the nature of humanistic ethics. This introduction only scratches the surface of secular humanism, a belief system that advocates the use of reason and critical intelligence to solve humanity’s problems rather then relying upon divine intervention.