Word of the Day: HUMANISM

hu·man·ism

noun \ˈhyü-mə-ˌni-zəm, ˈyü-\

: a system of values and beliefs that is based on the idea that people are basically good and that problems can be solved using reason instead of religion

Full Definition of HUMANISM

1a :  devotion to the humanities :  literary culture

b :  the revival of classical letters, individualistic and critical spirit, and emphasis on secular concerns characteristic of the Renaissance

2:  humanitarianism

3:  a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially :  a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual’s dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason

— hu·man·ist noun or adjective

— hu·man·is·tic adjective

— hu·man·is·ti·cal·ly adverb

First Known Use of HUMANISM

1832

Other Philosophy Terms

dialectic, dualism, epistemology, existentialism, metaphysics, ontology, sequitur, solipsism, transcendentalism

humanism

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any belief, method, or philosophy that has a central emphasis on the human realm. The term is most commonly applied to the cultural movement in Renaissance Europe characterized by a revival of Classical letters, an individualistic and critical spirit, and a shift of emphasis from religious to secular concerns. This movement dates to the 13th century and the work of the Florentine scholar-statesman Brunetto Latini. Its diffusion was facilitated by the publication of Classical ideas, both in the vernacular and in Latin.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanism