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 HUMANISM AND ITS ASPIRATIONS 

Humanist Manifesto III, a successor to the Humanist Manifesto of 1933*

Humanism is a progressivephilosophy of life that, withoutsupernaturalism, affirms our abilityand responsibility to lead ethicallives of personal fulfillment thataspire to the greater good of humanity.

 The lifestance of Humanism—guided by reason, inspired bycompassion, and informed by

experience—encourages us to livelife well and fully. It evolved throughthe ages and continues to developthrough the efforts of thoughtfulpeople who recognize that valuesand ideals, however carefullywrought, are subject to change asour knowledge and understandingsadvance.

 This document is part of an ongoing

effort to manifest in clear andpositive terms the conceptualboundaries of Humanism, not whatwe must believe but a consensus of what we do believe. It is in thissense that we affirm the following:

Knowledge of the world isderived by observation,experimentation, and rationalanalysis. Humanists find that

science is the best method fordetermining this knowledge as wellas for solving problems anddeveloping beneficial technologies.We also recognize the value of newdepartures in thought, the arts, andinner experience—each subject to

Life’s fulfillment emerges fromindividual participation in theservice of humane ideals. Weaim for our fullest possibledevelopment and animate ourlives with a deep sense of purpose,finding wonder and awe in the joysand beauties of human existence,its challenges and tragedies, andeven in the inevitability andfinality of death. Humanists rely on

the rich heritage of human cultureand the lifestance of Humanism toprovide comfort in times of wantand encouragement in times of plenty.

Humans are social by natureand find meaning inrelationships. Humanists long forand strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of 

cruelty and its consequences,where differences are resolvedcooperatively without resorting toviolence. The joining of  individuality with interdependenceenriches our lives, encourages usto enrich the lives of others, andinspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.

Working to benefit society

maximizes individualhappiness. Progressive cultureshave worked to free humanityfrom the brutalities of meresurvival and to reduce suffering,improve society, and developglobal community. We seek to

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analysis by critical intelligence.

Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided

evolutionary change. Humanistsrecognize nature as self-existing.We accept our life as all andenough, distinguishing things asthey are from things as we mightwish or imagine them to be. Wewelcome the challenges of thefuture, and are drawn to andundaunted by the yet to be known.

Ethical values are derived from

human need and interest astested by experience. Humanistsground values in human welfareshaped by human circumstances,interests, and concerns andextended to the global ecosystemand beyond. We are committed totreating each person as havinginherent worth and dignity, and tomaking informed choices in acontext of freedom consonant with

responsibility.

minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and wesupport a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits

of human effort so that as many aspossible can enjoy a good life.

Humanists are concerned for thewell being of all, are committed todiversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views. Wework to uphold the equalenjoyment of human rights andcivil liberties in an open, secularsociety and maintain it is a civic

duty to participate in thedemocratic process and aplanetary duty to protect nature’sintegrity, diversity, and beauty in asecure, sustainable manner.

 Thus engaged in the flow of life,we aspire to this vision with theinformed conviction that humanityhas the ability to progress towardits highest ideals. The

responsibility for our lives and thekind of world in which we live isours and ours alone.

* Humanist Manifesto is a

trademark of the American

Humanist Association—© 2003

 American Humanist 

 Association