Humanist Movement - Introduction and Basic Philosophy

Introduction and Basic Philosophy

The Humanist Movement's conception is based on the Siloist thought, whose main points are the following. Prior to thinking about his origin or destiny human being finds himself in a determined vital situation. A situation he has not chosen.

Thus, he is born submerged in a natural and also a social world plagued by physical and mental aggression that he experiences as pain and suffering. Consequently he mobilizes himself trying to overcome pain and suffering.

In his acting against the painful factors, he produces objects and signs which are incorporated into society and are transimetted historically. And all that is produced is loaded with meaning, with intention and this intention is ultimately to surpass pain and suffering.

The history of man kind - of its economy, of its politics, of its science, of its art- is the history of the struggle against pain and suffering. And this struggle is the motor of the progress. This struggle is not between mechanical forces. It is not a natural reflection. It is a struggle between human intentions. And, precisely, this is what embles us to speak of oppressors and oppressed, of just and unjust ones, of heroes and cowards. This is the only thing that enable one to rescue the personal subjectivity and is the only thing that enables one to practice with meaning the social solidarity and the commitment with the liberation of those discriminated, be these ones majorities or minorities. At this point, a definition of human being is must. It will not suffice to say:"man is the social animal" or manufacturer of objects, or as possessor of language etc. In the Siloist doctrine "Man is the historical being whose mode of social action transforms his own nature."

In shortly new Humanism is based on two basic points:

• Solidarity – defined as treating other people the way one would like to be treated and,
• Coherence – defined as thinking, feeling and acting in the same way.

The project of the Humanist Movement is to eradicate war, hunger, poverty and economic exploitation across the planet and develop a new system based on the value of human life as the central value, higher than money, power, prestige, etc. This vision of the future is called the Universal Human Nation. The methodology used is to work in groups and undertake personal development activities as well as social projects. Once sufficiently experienced, new groups develop according to their interests.

New Humanists share the following Humanist Attitude:

• Placing the human being as the central value and concern, in such a way that nothing is above the human being and no human being is above another.
• Affirming the equality of all human beings.
• Recognizing personal and cultural diversity, affirming the characteristics proper to each human group and condemning discrimination, whether motivated by economic, racial, ethnic, or cultural differences.
• Developing knowledge beyond the limitations imposed by prejudices accepted as absolute and immutable truths.
• Affirming the freedom of ideas and beliefs.
• Repudiating violence in all its forms.