In my opinion, humanism is searching for the ultimate "good" life, but that can never actually be attained. If you are supposed to be working towards a better life, then there is no way to actually achieve the "best" life, because there is always something better.
I do not believe that humanism is possible among entire societies. I do believe that humanism can exist within individual people trying to better their lives, but there are even restraints to that perspective. If a person is constantly trying to be a better person, there is only so much he or she can do, regardless of the resources they have at hand. Too much in society is dependent upon others, and so it is impossible to try to objectively make life better.
I believe that everyone should try to live by humanism, to a degree. I think that if people were more determined to make their lives, as well as the lives of others, better collectively, then the world would, in turn, be better. I think that people should try to commit random acts of kindness whenever they can, which I personally try to live by as well. I think that by making other people happy, you can make yourself happier, and if everyone lived by that, then everyone would be happier.
However, even though I am an optimist, I am also realistic. I know that most people do care about themselves first, and others second, if (sadly) at all. But I believe that even caring a little bit about others and going out of your way just a little bit could help to propel the idea of humanism throughout our society.
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I think your post exemplifies why Houf is discussing the question of "is humanism a religion." At its core, humanism is quite optimistic without really analyzing the "hows" of bringing about the universal good. And that is what religion does too, eh? Gives us an idealism to live up to?
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is impossible for humanism to exist among entire cultures or societies. I think people are too different and will never be able to find a common ground in which everyone needs exactly the same things. I think some people will always be more selfish than others. Some people will always suffer, while others are living in bliss. I think tragedy somehow finds a way to bring mankind together, even if it is just for a moment.
ReplyDeleteI also think that humanism is a nice idea, but unattainable as an entire society. I also know that I feel better by doing things for other people, and I like to make other people happy, but I guess I just don't have to faith in humanity that you do. I think that people as a whole are probably too selfish to care about the feelings of everyone around them more than themselves. I will just try to be the best person that I can be.
ReplyDeleteI like your posting. I agree that it isn't possible to achieve true happiness if we are always striving to find the best. I also like how you said that you are a realist and know that most people care about themselves before others. I think that is very true. Most people want happiness for themselves before someone else and if it comes down to them being happy or another person being happy most likely people chose to make themselves happy.
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