Humanist Manifesto 2000
A Call for a New Planetary Humanism
Drafted by Professor Paul Kurtz,
International Academy of Humanism, USA
1. Preamble
Humanism is an ethical, scientific, and philosophical outlook
that has changed the world. Its heritage traces back to the philosophers and
poets of ancient Greece and Rome, Confucian China, and the Charvaka movement in
classical India. Humanist artists, writers, scientists, and thinkers have been shaping the modern era for over half a millennium. Indeed, humanism and
modernism have often seemed synonymous for humanist ideas and values express a
renewed confidence in the power of human beings to solve their own problems and
conquer uncharted frontiers.
II. Prospects for a Better Future
For the first time in human history we possess the means
provided by science and technology to ameliorate the human condition, advance
happiness and freedom, and enhance human life for all people on this planet.
III. Scientific Naturalism
The unique message of humanism on the current world scene is
its commitment to scientific naturalism. Most world views accepted today are
spiritual, mystical, or theological in character. They have their origins in
ancient pre-urban, nomadic, and agricultural societies of the past, not in the
modern industrial or postindustrial global information culture that is emerging.
Scientific naturalism enables human beings to construct a coherent world view
disentangled from metaphysics or theology and based on the sciences.
IV. The Benefits of Technology
Humanists have consistently defended the beneficent values of
scientific technology for human welfare. Philosophers from Francis Bacon to John
Dewey have emphasized the increased power over nature that scientific knowledge
affords and how it can contribute immeasurably to human advancement and happiness.
V. Ethics and Reason
The realization of the highest ethical values is essential to
the humanist outlook. We believe that growth of scientific knowledge will enable
humans to make wiser choices. In this way there is no impenetrable wall between
fact and value, is and ought. Using reason and cognition will better enable us
to appraise our values in the light of evidence and by their consequences.
VI. A Universal Commitment to Humanity as a Whole
The overriding need of the world community today is to
develop a new Planetary Humanism—one that seeks to preserve human rights and
enhance human freedom and dignity, but also emphasizes our commitment to
humanity as a whole. The underlying ethical principle of Planetary Humanism is
the need to respect the dignity and worth of all persons in the world community.
VII. A Planetary Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
To fulfill our commitment to Planetary Humanism, we offer a Planetary
Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, which embodies our planetary commitment
to the well-being of humanity as a whole. It incorporates the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, but goes beyond it by offering some new
provisions. Many independent countries have sought to implement these provisions
within their own national borders. But there is a growing need for an explicit Planetary
Bill of Rights and Responsibilities that applies to all members of the human
species.
VIII. A New Global Agenda
Many of the high ideals that emerged following the Second
World War, and that found expression in such instruments as the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, have waned through the world. If we are to
influence the future of humankind, we will need to work increasingly with and
through the new centers of power and influence to improve equity and stability,
alleviate poverty, reduce conflict, and safeguard the environment.
IX. The Need for New Planetary Institutions
The urgent question in the twenty-first century is whether
humankind can develop global institutions to address these problems. Many of the
best remedies are those adopted on the local, national, and regional level by
voluntary, private, and public efforts. One strategy is to seek solutions
through free-market initiatives; another is to use international voluntary
foundations and organizations for educational and social development. We
believe, however, that there remains a need to develop new global institutions
that will deal with the problems directly and will focus on the needs of
humanity as a whole. These include the call for a bicameral legislature in the
United Nations, with a World Parliament elected by the people, an income tax to
help the underdeveloped countries, the end of the veto in the Security Council,
an environmental agency, and a world court with powers of enforcement.
X. Optimism about the Human Prospect
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, as members of the
human community on this planet we need to nurture a sense of optimism about the
human prospect. Although many problems may seem intractable, we have good
reasons to believe that we can marshal our talent to solve them, and that by
goodwill and dedication a better life will be attainable by more and more
members of the human community. Planetary humanism holds forth great promises
for humankind. We wish to cultivate a sense of wonder and excitement about the
potential opportunities for realizing enriched lives for ourselves and for generations yet to be born.
The Promise of Manifesto 2000
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