What is Humanism?

 Humaniora – means study of human body and surrounding nature

 Humanism is a movement organized to gain for man a proper recognition in the universe.
Educational thought in humanism is concerned with the restoration of lost values.
 “Humanism is a Philosophy of Joyous Service for the greater good of all humanity in this natural
world and according to the methods of reason and democracy”
Other information includes
 Very old philosophy
 It is derived from the great minds and works in Eastern and Western history and literature •
 Does not find its origin in experimental sciences and mathematical statistics
 It is movement to gain for man a proper recognition in the universe • It is concerned with the
restoration of lost values
 Humanist thought – man is an end and not a means
Humanism operates on two principles. • They are as follows :
1. Values upheld by a nation affect history. Good follows when a nation’s values are of the highest
quality. Modern man must learn from history.
2. Great literature stresses values. Man comes to recognize pieces.
FEATURES
• Man is a rational being
• Realization of spiritual ideals
• Human perfection • Conquest and control of man
• Human freedom
• Welfare of the whole of the community
ELEMENTS
• Values are not Relative but Absolute
• The Values held by people affect History
• The Values themselves are inexpressible
• The Humanist Emphasizes Literature
• Human nature does not change