Humanism Intro Part 1 - 'Humanism' Richard Dawkins, Tim Minchin, Andrew Copson, & more...
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2012
- Humanism is sometimes mistaken for a form of religion, or something which is very complex. Here, some well known humanists explain that all humanism really is, is people wanting to live ethical and happy lives, thinking for themselves, without religion imposing its own morals on them which are not necessarily compatible with living ethically today. Including interviews with: Richard Dawkins, A C Grayling, Tim Minchin, Andrew Copson, Polly Toynbee, Rumi Hassan, Philip Pullman, & Zoe Margolis.
"Science is the poetry of reality"
..it's also fundamentally democratic, as Dawkins points out: the alternatives (superstition, dogma etc ) are deeply antisocial.
The best stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
I've always identified as atheist in some way, even though I've been raised in a Christian home my entire life. Discovering the existence of humanism has made my life 200% better! Thanks for explaining this ideal to those who are condemning, skeptical, or just curious about humanism and their lifestyles.
I forget who it was who said (and I'm paraphrasing) "the only thing worse than the party coming to an end is knowing that the party is still going on, but that you have to leave." Thus we invent the concept of the afterlife.
Christopher Hitchens
@@differdog9354 Yup, thats the one!
I do not see anything in this video that anyone can disagree with. I feel it is a wonderful way to live your life rather than have some superstition guide your movements and judgements. The last speaker really does sum it up well. Why do people find this form of thought evil. It just seems a wonderful way to base your live according to reason. Fro well over 2000 years with have had a faith based system and I think you would agree it has not served man kind well at all. Time to move on and try something new based on reason.
Philip Mc Adam : same
religion has been the cause of so many wars i dont see how people can still have this beliefs
This stuff is as much a metaphysical doctrine as religion. It's just you cant see it because you are within the belief system of it. Thays why it just sounds like 'common sense'. Look up materialist reductionism... the dominant religion of our supposedly 'rational' age.
"...but that doesn't mean that it (humanism) has got a particular line or doctrine that everyone has to follow. In fact, it demands of people that they think of themselves." Wow!! Couldn't be put better than this!!
'One cannot prove that god doesn't exist, but science makes god unnecessary' - Nobel prize winning physicist, Stephen Hawking
He did not win the Nobel prize though
bullshit science had already proved the existence of god but they don't want to accept it so came out with a bullshit " theory " to try to disproof the scientific finding that proves the existence of god
Science studies patterns and regulatiries like the migration pattern of bison or the behaviour of cells in a petri dish. Then people come up with philosophical interpretations about what that might mean.
There is no part of that that says anything one way or the other about the ultimate meaning or cause of reality.... even though plenty of pundits like Dawkins - who should know better - try to sell you some idea that it does.
@@venitocamelo6704 You will find that this is more accurate: "bullshit-science had already proved the existence of god"
the next day the mf was dead
For me, being a humanist is a liberating experience. One of the aspects of humanism I like the most is that we do not judge anyone by what they believe or do not believe. Rather, we do the right thing simply because it's the right thing to do
Then how will you identify an enemy?
If you go through life looking for enemies, how sad for you.
I've never had to look for the fukers, they appear easily and often.. no just joking : )
calmfocustruth so you just accepted that you are f***ed like that ...
Namestolen Forever omg, comedy gold,.. you write your own stuff?
calmfocustruth go hell bro 😛
This is beautiful. I sincerely love all those guys, and, come to think of it, I love all of you who read this, too. This is the one big experience that we are in for, so let's make good use of it: Let us all be honestly nice to one another. It's as simple as that.
This is wonderful! Thank you to those at the British Humanist Association and to all who participated in sharing their voices.
Recently I stopped trying to find God and in doing so I found the wonderful world that I have the great pleasure of being alive in. I now look at what I see with wonder and I no longer sit around praying for this or that, and waiting for the answer. I go with open eyes, with no god, no afterlife, no heaven, no hell, just this life! Funny thing after spending 50 years going after God to have a happy good life ended up leading me away from having it.
Very Happily God Free!!!
Frankie1Crumb I am wondering how did you proved that he doesnt exist? or did you just let it go?
I really like this comment. I'm 48 and have spent the last 25 of them trying to find some kind of resolution (after leaving a fundamentalist X'tian background behind).
And whats the resolution?
@@nmstlnstln2649 And who said god exist?
@@MK-cy3ww who said he doesn't? 😅
I've always taken the position that, we all won't know for sure until we die, so we might as well live our lives and not worry about it.
I don’t want to live my life according to the goatherder’s guide to the galaxy. It has no more pull on me than the Torah, the Koran, the Sutras or the Vedas. I chose knowledge, reason, empathy and truth. (Edited for spelling)
Richard at around 1:40 had an amazing point. I have to say though, the idea of eternity isn't what's frightening about death. The idea of being dead is what's frightening about death. :/
So refreshing to listen to this. The thought that life (in some way or another) will go on long after I’m gone is in itself comforting to me personally. I’m lucky enough to live on the edge of some beautiful woodland on the Cotswold Edge. Every day I marvel at the incredible nature around me. That all of these amazing things gradually came in to being via natural processes is in itself remarkable enough not to need a “god” to explain it.
My kids dug up a 65 million year old fossil in our garden while playing during lockdown. It’s incredible to think that 65 million years ago where I live was not even above water. It’s wondrous to me to even consider what things might be like in another 65 million years. Life and nature are perplexing at times, but knowing there will always be more to learn about how and why the universe is like it is fills me with so much joy and optimism.
Loved the video. Thanks for posting.
@@jessebryant9233 I agree that ultimately not a bit of it matters. I'm not ultimate though, nor do I live in the ultimate, so why would it be a good idea to view anything exclusively from a perspective focused on the ultimate?
@@jessebryant9233 Which part of my comment does your "well then" statement refer to, and which part of your comment answers the question that I asked?
@@jessebryant9233 Okay, this is just getting frustrating. That's not how the phrase "well then" works, or that's not what "refer to" means, I'm not sure which of those you have mixed up. My first question didn't get answered initially, the second one was misinterpreted or misunderstood. Both constitute inadequate replies, coupled with unrelated and possibly judgemental statements of your own, and the posing instead of your own question which, if intended to answer my initial question, omitted an aspect of the question that has a strong bearing on what the question actually is. None of this is productive, some of it is counterproductive, and the flow of conversation is stilted because of it. Unfortunately, I don't have the patience for that, so I'm gonna have to cop out.
I'm an Atheist, I'm saying that it promotes knowledge.
Tim Minchin, Richard Dawkins and Philip Pullman speaking about humanism. Now I am happy for the rest of the week.
Indeed "Science is the poetry of reality"
in the words of Ricky Gervais, i think the thought that everything that we are, and everything that we live in was one big happy accident is a much more beautiful thought than divine creation.
Nah it's just sloppy thinking that sounds deep. A new religion that worships the 'god of flukes'. What is the nature of consciousness... is it primary or an epi phenomenon? How do you know? These and other questions that this brand of humanism utterly drops the ball on..
Excellent, thanks for a great video
thank you for this wonderful video!
This is helpful. Thank you!
I've always thought about that. Eternity whether in an evil or good way, freaks me out! Credit where credit is due, and death deserves its credit. Excellent point.
As a dedicated altruist I think this was very well done and well in line with my thoughts on life. Science rocks.
Delightful and refreshing !
I have always been a Humanist ever since I was a child... It's only the last few years that I have been able to give myself that label. I was taken to Sunday School as a 9 or 10 year old and clearly remember thinking that what I was being told was complete rubbish... even at that young age.
What a fabulous bunch of people
This is really good and I like having different pts of view in support of Humanists. Past lives, future lives, who truly knows. Many spiritual teachings open to us, or none. The important thing is how can we be here & now, kind and loving companions on earth, to all living beings.
What is the difference between the British Humanist Society and the National Secular Society?
I am not sure which one to join?
Yep I'm definitely a humanist!! :D
Njugglesvatn wrote: "Why spend so much time mocking and decrying something Humanists don't believe exists?"
While we Humanists don't expect to persuade anyone entrenched by the fear of their chosen deity, the mocking does have a strangely redeeming quality, perhaps because we've been where the theist is & can see how mentally restrictive the shackles of religious dogma are. We want all of humanity to experience the powerful awakening that comes with freedom from magical thinking.
Brilliant video - well done British Humanists!
Wherever the place is on the planet that the most humanists live, that is where I want to live.
This video somehow feels incomplete without the great Christopher Hitchens.
Yes it does. I unfortunately only came across CH a few years ago, but was drawn in straight away. Its nice to listen to people with high intelligence and knowledge.
Agreed. I wish life could just be so simple as that to have everyone agree to just live and let live.
Humanism is the only higher power I can rely on.
thats awesome!! xxx
That's quite an optimistic assertion. I rather like it!
I have an honest question, weren't Thomas More (a Saint in the Catholic Church) and Erasmus humanist? They didn't seem to separate humanism and religion. What is the difference with humanism then and humanism now?
I think it is wonderful to view the diverse human experience as competing cultural organisms evolving for survival and dominance. I feel that we as individuals are faced with the choice of joining in one of these larger structures, or attempt to create our own, still resulting in joining or developing a new organism. We are not bees or ants, but my experience is that we depend greatly on each other in all regards.
I don't see how you statement is a response to my post. I did not mention "Faith" or "God".
This is the way to go.
it is beautiful to see a person who doesnt believe in God has the same values and morality as a religious person. wether you dont believe in God like I do I loved your views its something diffirent. I thing the most important thing is for a human is pondering about life wether we dont end up in a same result. 😊
No worries Ellie, and keep up the good work.
is it just me or at 0:55, when he says the word 'of' he sounds like somthing is being inserted, somewhere ???
It's probably best to be a good person and to do good - but there's no obligation for goodness.
well said my friend.
A fair point, but surely that's a worthwhile risk. The alternative is, as we have it now, this video only accessible to people with a link.
Now I'm not certain, but I imagine the people who can already get here are not the ones who most need to hear this message. Everyone should be able to see this.
Universal human rights.
Racial justice.
Environmental responsibility.
We are one.
I have encountered one problem though, when educating myself about humanism. What should we do about psychopaths? One guy said that "every single member of the species is the bearer of the dignity that humanity gives us" (4:48). But people suffering from antisocial personality disorder are often born with this cold, cruel and uncompassionate outlook towards others. The scary thing is that it is hard, almost impossible, to cure some of them. They look human, they sound human but they lack the very humanity that humanism is all about. Should the human rights of serial killers be respected? Are they even human?? ...Apart from that, humanism, in my opinion, is the best philosophy of life.
You do not have to do anything about him as long as he commits no crime.
Yeah, I was doing a bit of research, they seem to have been rooted in the Renaissance Humanism while this form comes right out of the Enlightenment era!
Philip Pullman! Love the guy! :-)
Great video. Love it :)
Steven Fry would have been good in this.. He's a humanist right?
There is a "religion" that offers a way which doesn't expect you to follow a particular book, or God, no heaven or hell, but rather to believe in yourself, to challenge everything including beliefs and to " think for yourself." More importantly it allows the person to reject any belief system that doesn't make sense including humanism. It offers a pluralistic path. It's doesn't claim to be exclusive like humanism , it rejects the notion of "my way is the right way, all other belief systems are wrong."
Good Video!
Hirundo
I was thinking the same thing! I love Stephen Fry. I just watched a series on Netflix with him called Stephen Fry in America. I wish I could have caught up with him. I'm not too familiar with his work as an actor, but I'm working on catching up.
This seems like an "ignorance is bliss" argument. And I could agree that not knowing about all the painful things in the world might make us feel better. But I also subscribe to the theory that happiness is a state of mind/consciousness. And as such we can improve our happiness over time, even with accepting the truth of the world - and much of its suffering. I've adopted this theory after reading "Happiness" by Matthieu Ricard - which blends principles from Buddhism with neuroscience.
Absolutely. In fact, I was surprised to see Prof Grayling extolling the virtues of the ancient Greeks in the video, given their very odd (by modern standards) beliefs on women's rights, slavery, oracles, even their concept of beauty (which to us would verge on paedophilia).
All "in the spirit of Socrates" means is "questioning everything", as per the Socratic method. I didn't mean to imply I was a deep thinker, and am amazed at the hostility my well-meant comment has generated on this forum.
captions are hysterical =)
When I look at humanism my biggest question is WHY? Humanists claim that science is a driving factor but I see very little to no scientific evidence for humanism. Humanism seems more like a dreamed up alternative to religion for people that do not want to come to terms with the reality of the abstract.
I think you're mistaking Humanism for religion. Religion worships a god or supernatural thought, whereas humanism is an ethical and philosophical stance on life. I see no proof for a supernatural being, but I have seen evidence that thinking rationally and scientifically leads to progress, and making the world better. I hope that answered your query
+TomBirdman Bird Thanks for commenting, the problem arises from rationalizing morality that without a basis or reason to start you can rationalize anything. If your view of logical morality is that morality is absolute then we are both starting at the same point I just refer to that absolute starting place as God because to me and my observations reality is not relative, what binds reality is orderly there is a starting point.
Awesome debate guys. I love seeing this instead of the normal toxicity.
Absolute morality is untenable because it requires the existence of ONE GOD ONLY. Try to convince members of other religions that their gods do not exist. You cannot. The consequence of many gods is that you will end up with a number of absolute moralities which gets us nowhere. Humanism uses a non-absolute morality based on the scientific reality of human nature and the welfare/wellbeing of human beings.
@@lavenderandred_ ah yeah , thats very optimistic, progress for the better, like bigger and better atomic weapons of mass destruction at the finger tips of n.korea and trump.
Thank you 🤗
@@jessebryant9233 Please live well and safe and believe im whatever makes you happy because this is the only life you will know.
Life is urgent
Life is real
And the grave is not its goal 😊
@@jessebryant9233 keep smiling 😊 jess
No problem jess as the song says
🎼 you go your way and I'll go mine now,and for ever till the end of time 😊😊
@@jessebryant9233 No one ever expects the Spanish inquisition! 😅
@@jessebryant9233Jess you are very intese in your opinion and it will make no difference to the price of eggs 😊
"Really?" ... What would you suggest as an alternative?
Humanism. The fine art of being human. Growing a giant heart to generate lots of love (light and warmth). This is accomplished by appreciating this paradise planet lifeboat and the miraculous works of fine art called " life" that inhabit it. Opposite of lifeless corpses's called "vampires" who worship ignorance (greed) to suck the vital forces (joy and beauty) out of life and destroy the planet.
The greater good for all and equal rights without religious oppression? Sounds fantastic!
couldn't agree more.
Someone please educate me; what is the difference, if any difference at all, between Humanism and Humanitarianism? Please respond, I look forward to your surely well informed answer! :)
The differences are fewer than the similarities. People are trying to find ways to deal with their lives. Some people find solace in the community aspects of religious participation and shared values, others find searching themselves and their own power of thought to be an authentic and powerful way to view the world.
The problem is not really about the mode of thinking, it's this obsession with the need to be 'right' and the arrogance that follow it.
"Good = Health. imo"
That just means your emotional response to health is that it is good. Health might be an objective measure but what makes health "good" is the human mind's reaction to it.
The 'good reaction' is real but it only signifies what we have evolved and learned to class as being good.
The original Hindu ( Hindu is not a religion) marriage traditions are humanist, respectfully committed to each other, unity combining not only of two persons but two family. The ceremony is in witness by nature & its elements.
The preset version is indeed distorted by priest for religious captivity.
A good start is always "Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you".
Also "Do unto others as you would have them do to you - but only with their consent".
And the most important things in life are love and laughter - love above all (here of course I concur with Jesus).
How do you know that there is no afterlife? Surely we are on this journey of life to find out things we don't know
I thought I was leaning towards Buddism, but this sounds right up my street.
I think that this says pretty much it all...
As a long term humanist / atheist I have no problem holding science in high regard. Bronowski inspired me 35 years ago to the massively important - awesome - place of science to human civilisation, and humans in the cosmos. BUT the self-importance of scientists who say science is THE poetry of reality are as closed-minded and deluded as any religious believer.
I love Richard Dawkins. He has an amazing intellect.
Humanist, Secularist, Enlightenment, Constitutionalist, Libertarian.
Any questions?
Genius!
If only all religions would be open and not try and control , the world would be a better place
But the very foundation of almost all religions is as a method of control. That is the very reason religious organisations exist.
Pullman said he's lucky to have been born because there are so many wonderful things to be conscious of.
By that reasoning, he's also extremely unlucky to have been born because there are so many horrible things to be conscious of.
As Titania McGrath put it ,
'Say what you like about ISIS , but at least you can't acuse them of Islamophobia '.
Iain Rae just so you know Islam and isis are to different religions
@@REE-er2wd
Sorry, you missed the joke.
Yes " it IS pretty stupid to answer it without any evidence to support your answer" You are very correct and this is why I was trying to call out the post first post. They called someones view "stupid" without supporting evidence. If you want to make a point for humanism and how the world can be a better place by finding meaning without gods then you/we need to be working on making the world better & more educated rather then giving blanket statements about the stupidity of our fellow humans.
I'm trying to complete an article comparing and contrasting humanism to trans-humanism. I have a question if anyone cares to answer it. What is the humanist position on using technology and genetics to create a human chimera which could potentially live forever, be able to run faster, lift more, think faster, and produce more? Do humanist reject this idea or are they embracing it?
That ensure one's belief aren't forced upon others, and the rules they willingly follow by having this particular belief aren't unilaterally decided to be laws for the whole community. If you don't want to do something, don't. If you want to do something, and it does not prevent someone's else to act freely, do it. It does supress coercion, and thus, allow more freedom for all, not a particular brand of people
"here, the way of man parts: if what you want is peace of soul and happiness, then believe. if you want to be a disciple of truth, then seek (nietzsche).
When I said, "Good = Health" I was running out of characters; what i meant is "Good/Well-being" is a scale just like Health. It is more preferable to live than to die (in general). So you have 'Death' on one end and 'Life' on the other. Where ever you are (or We, Society, world, ect) on that scale it represents preservation of. It is not an emotional response. I consider, Well-being's Scale: 'Worst possible state vs Best. Even though it's less demonstrable than Life vs Death.
Agreed entirely, the one ethical value which is universal is utilitarianism from my perspective. Other ethical values should be created to serve that one value.
I never wrote anything to indicate that's what I was doing. I was demonstrating the egalitarian commonality held between Humanism and most Religious groups. I'm not talking in terms of the 'religion' I'm speaking in terms of egalitarianism in practice. Why would you bother commenting if you weren't going to take the time to try and understand what I wrote?
I have an inmense respect for people thinking this way. I myself would find it extremely hard to find purpose in life without the prospect of an afterlife and continous progression. There have been difficult times in my life where I'm not sure I would have made it through even without that prospect.
If there are secular humanists watching this, where would you say your sense of morality comes from? Bytheway; my intentions are not to troll or critize or whatever, I'm genuinely interested even if I wouldn't agree with some of the answers (if such a thing would come up)......I'd really like to hear some of your thoughts.
Morality has no solid foundation, perhaps like logic, even though people think it does.Yes, if you were to give up religion, your whole moral edifice would seem to collapse but not because religion implies morality but because it would be the first time you gave it serious thought. Morality is a castle suspended in air with no support. I personally, have no moral sense! I artificially construct it on the idea of suffering.
@@armchair8258 Thanks man! Even if I would want to, I don't think it's so easy to just 'give up religion'. Everything we do in life is based on and influenced by the belief system or convictions we have. Just turning those off....would be impossible I think and probably unwise. As there is often (not always) a good reason people came to those beliefs (by experience, research, thought, etc). Just like I didn't become religious just by the thought of it sounding good or cool (I live in The Netherlands, being religious is anything but cool and usually something looked down upon). :)
I do like to put myself in positions where my system of belief is being challenged however.
Could you elaborate on the idea of suffering a bit? Would love to know more about that. I appreciate the time!
"he didn't arrive at that conclusion through science."
And his conclusion is also a mere thought experiment. It does not make a statement about what reality entails. He explicitly qualified the entire claim with "If we live in a naturalistic universe...". The only way to arrive at an informed opinion about whether or not that's true is by careful observation. That is, doing science.
Obviously anyone can guess and make stuff up and be right by accident, but few people call such things knowledge
Even though these people try to prop up humanism as something good, it’s not because it places man at the center of the universe and makes him the judge of all things. There is no true love for the planet and no true respect of man. The problem lies in the fact that humanism does not have an infinite reference point to point that provides true value and meaning to anything.
Is it sad that there's no afterlife? What if it is? Does that mean we should believe in it? What we want to be true and what is true are two completely different things. I don't know why there should be any other answer than that.
Paul, "What we want to be true and what is true are two completely different things." Well, what do you believe to be true and why?
Science is more than a body of knowledge, it's a way of thinking. A way of skeptically interrogate the Universe-Carl Sagan.
The subtitles on this one need to be fixed up a bit.
They are right ,,when they says we should have to save our lives and build the world better than expect someone ...tell us and help us..its a waste of time and energy..
Humanism is a philosophical belief sytem, just as any other ism. Where does humanism take on the big questions of existence , why is there something rather than nothing question? Or is a give up i haven't got a clue situation?
Chris, they're dumbasses claiming to try to understand and yet have very shallow thoughts.
And i thought this morning would be boring, at least there some who accept reality.
yes, if you practiced and promoted your belief that everyone should be polite, as you said, you would be considered to be religious about politeness. I agree, interactions are not religious of themselves. Prayer is not a religious activity unless one is committed to it and promotes it, though even the promotion aspect may not be necessary. If I pray once a year I would hardly be religious based on my "prayer life".
You live on a CREATED earth, and everything you can see , touch, hear, was Created.
Why something happens is completely measurable and knowable. From where I stand there are no stupid questions, just stupid answers. "Why" avoid the question of why something happens? Doesn't make sense to me to actually want to be eager to avoid such a question. I know what you're thinking though, that I'm just stupid....but why? ;)
Agreed.
So, to summarise your argument, because humans are not magical, life is not worth living. Great logic there.