Now let us take a look at a second challenge. We need religion for there to even be morality. The argument goes that without some external standard of right and …
Before we go on to explore how humanists believe we might be able to build morality, it is worth exploring some of the criticisms of a humanist approach to ethics …
Instincts: good and bad We have seen the humanist case for where the origins of our morality lie: in our evolution as a social animal. It is our social instincts …
The primatologist and zoologist Frans de Waal highlights two propensities necessary for moral behaviour: Reciprocity with a sense of justice This is the practice of exchanging things with others for …
‘Why should I consider others? These ultimate moral questions, like all ultimate questions, can be desperately difficult to answer, as every philosophy student knows. Myself, I think the only possible …
Take a look at the video of different humanists answering the question, ‘How do we know what is right and wrong?’ Look out for similarities and differences between the humanist …
Congratulations on completing Week 3. In Week 1 we explored the humanist understanding of human beings, of our limitations and our capabilities. This week we have learned how humanists attempt …
Below is an article from humanist philosopher Richard Norman on the way that humanism needs to acknowledge the possibility of failure and tragedy in our lives. From a humanist point …
We now return to the question of what makes a meaningful life. Below is an article from humanist philosopher Richard Norman on how stories can give meaning to our life …
Some critics claim that a humanist conception of a good life lacks a whole dimension, they say it leaves little room for depth or wonder. Below, Jacqueline Watson explains how …
Take a look at the video of different humanists answering the question, ‘What is the good life?’ Look out for similarities and differences between the humanist responses and consider where …
Many answers When it comes to the question of what makes a good life, there is no one single answer. No one size fits all way to live. Different people’s …