Humanism: Definition, History, and Core Philosophy
This paper introduces humanism as a philosophical tradition rooted in the Renaissance and further shaped by the Enlightenment. It begins with four dictionary-level definitions of the term, spanning its rejection of supernatural authority, its emphasis on human autonomy over religious doctrine, its literary origins in classical studies, and its concern for human welfare. The paper then draws on Corliss Lamont's The Philosophy of Humanism to present ten foundational principles of the philosophy, covering its naturalistic worldview, reliance on science over conjecture, belief in human freedom and self-determination, commitment to morality and beauty, and advocacy for the social application of reason.
- Introduction to Humanism: Introduces humanism and its historical significance
- Four Core Definitions of Humanism: Four dictionary-level definitions of humanism
- Historical Roots: Renaissance and Enlightenment: Humanism's origins in Renaissance and Enlightenment thought
- Corliss Lamont's Ten Principles of Humanism: Lamont's ten foundational philosophical principles
- Conclusion: Summary and practical relevance of humanism
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper layers its definitions effectively, moving from a concise four-part dictionary definition to a more detailed ten-point philosophical framework, giving readers a progressively deeper understanding.
- It anchors abstract philosophical ideas in historical context by connecting humanism's development to the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.
- By citing a primary philosophical source (Lamont's The Philosophy of Humanism), the paper gives its explanatory framework scholarly grounding rather than relying on informal summaries alone.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the use of structured enumeration as an expository tool. Rather than paraphrasing Lamont's ten principles loosely, it presents them as a numbered list with direct quotations, allowing the reader to evaluate the source material on its own terms while benefiting from the paper's framing and context.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief orientation to the topic and its relevance, then delivers four dictionary-level definitions of humanism. It situates the philosophy historically within the Renaissance and the Enlightenment before presenting Lamont's ten-point framework as its analytical centerpiece. The structure is cumulative: each section builds on the previous one, moving from definition to history to detailed philosophical exposition.
Introduction to Humanism
Humanism is an important philosophical tradition that has existed since the Renaissance of the 1500s. Yet few people know what humanism means or what it actually refers to. This paper provides definitions of humanism along with a brief history, so that readers are better prepared to understand the philosophy and, if needed, apply its principles to daily life.
Four Core Definitions of Humanism
As a definition, humanism carries several related meanings. According to the Free Dictionary, it can refer to any of four things:
First, as a philosophy, it signifies "the denial of any power or moral value superior to that of humanity," as well as the rejection of religion in favor of a belief in humanity's capacity for advancement through its own efforts. Second, it can signify the philosophical position that "stresses the autonomy of human reason in contradistinction to the authority of the Church." Third, as a literary movement, it can signify the Renaissance movement based on classical studies. Fourth, it can mean a genuine "interest in the welfare of people."1
Historical Roots: Renaissance and Enlightenment
In order to understand humanism more deeply, it helps to consider its historical development. Because humanism originated during the Renaissance and was further shaped by the Enlightenment, one can reasonably identify its rejection of supernatural authority and its affirmation of human ability as two of its most defining characteristics. Humanism has, needless to say, evolved considerably throughout the ages.
Conclusion
With these definitions and principles in mind, one is better prepared to understand humanism as a philosophy and, if needed, to apply its insights to daily life.
1 "Humanism — Definition of Humanism by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia." The Free Dictionary. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/humanism>.
2 All points and quotations taken from: "The 10 Points of Humanism: A Definition." IHumanism | An Internet Humanist Community. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.ihumanism.org/intro/10points.html>.
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