Chapter 28.
“What a man can be, he must be.”
— Abraham Maslow
Conway Hall and the Post-War Shift
Conway Hall, home of the South Place Ethical Society, stands as a testament to the evolution of humanist thought. Already secular by 1888, it became a hub for freethinkers, rationalists and those seeking a moral framework beyond religious doctrine.
The hall’s significance grew in the aftermath of World War II, a conflict that shattered traditional certainties and forced a reckoning with the failures of pre-war systems. The war’s devastation exposed the fragility of religious narratives and the need for a new moral compass. In this vacuum, humanism emerged as a powerful alternative, offering a secular foundation for ethics, justice and collective well-being.
In 1946, Conway Hall hosted the first post-war conference of the World Union of Freethinkers, where figures advocated for a unified humanism. This moment marked a turning point, as the world sought to rebuild not just physically but morally, turning to reason, science and shared human values as the bedrock of a new order. The fallout of the war accelerated the shift from religion to humanism, as people grappled with the horrors of the Holocaust, fascism and the scale of human suffering. If divine morality could not prevent such atrocities, then humanity itself had to take responsibility for ethics, justice and the future of civilisation.
Understanding What We Can Be
Abraham Maslow’s observation resonates with the essence of humanism. In this spirit, we might posit that humanism is the pursuit of what we must be by understanding what we can be. This definition invites us to explore two interconnected facets.
The first is understanding what we can be. This is the Learning aspect of humanism. It speaks to our inherent capacity for growth, creativity and self-actualisation. This involves a continuous journey of discovery to uncover the limits of our intellect, our compassion and our ability to innovate.
It is a recognition of human agency, our power to shape our own lives and the world through reason, curiosity and the drive to improve. This understanding is not static. It evolves as knowledge expands and as we confront new challenges. It is also always in the present. Humanism, in this sense, is an understanding of what we are, right now, in all our complexity, and is therefore always complete. It is the journey of discovery into what is, pushing the boundaries of what we once thought possible for human flourishing.
Understanding ourselves also means acknowledging our needs, including the role of play, which embodies a biological imperative for learning and serves as a powerful avenue for the flourishing that humanism seeks. Even our physical capabilities, from raw might to the amplification achieved through tools and collective action, are part of this ongoing learning about human potential and the dynamics of power that humanism must address.
Historically, humanism emerged as an intellectual movement, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, shifting focus from a solely supernatural worldview to one that celebrated human reason, dignity and achievement. It laid the groundwork for scientific inquiry, democratic governance and universal human rights. The true breadth of humanism demands an understanding that moves beyond a singular historical origin. An authentic humanism is inherently worldly, requiring an ongoing dialogue across diverse cultural traditions, ensuring it is a shared project where people from every background can recognise themselves.
Pursuing What We Must Be
“What a man can be, he must be.” This statement serves as the bridge to the Living aspect of humanism. It introduces a moral imperative, suggesting that once we grasp our potential, we have a responsibility to act in ways that benefit ourselves, our communities and the wider world.
This must be is a commitment to compassion, justice and the well-being of all. It is about applying our understanding and capabilities to address societal problems and build a more equitable and sustainable future.
Humanism gives us the moral framework to choose our future. It provides the tools to navigate the complexities of modern life, grounding our decisions in reason, empathy and a shared commitment to human flourishing. Unlike dogmatic systems that prescribe rigid answers, humanism empowers us to question, adapt and create solutions that reflect our evolving understanding of what it means to live well. It is a framework that values evidence over tradition, action over passivity and collective well-being over individual gain.
In a world of rapid change and existential challenges, humanism offers a compass to guide us toward a future we actively shape rather than passively accept. This pursuit requires critical thinking, a reliance on evidence and a willingness to engage with complex challenges, always striving for solutions that are grounded in human values and shared experience.
Learning through Questioning
Central to this living humanism is its capacity for robust self-critique. Humanism is a practice demanding the right to dissent and the courage to speak truth to power. It positions humanism as a form of resistance against injustices that continue to disfigure the world, constantly pushing towards greater emancipation.
In the contemporary world, humanism remains relevant. It underpins efforts to address global challenges such as climate change, social inequality and technological ethics. By understanding what we can be, our capacity for scientific advancement and our deep-seated empathy, humanism compels us to pursue what we must be: responsible stewards of the planet, advocates for justice and creators of inclusive societies.
This pursuit includes a critical obligation to ensure that humanism’s claims of dignity and rights are applied without exception. True humanism must possess the capacity to critique its own historical failures and instances of selective application, daring to criticise the practice of humanism in the name of humanism itself to ensure genuine equity and universal flourishing.
Conclusion of Part 2: Human Agency
We have explored the nature of power, delving into its many manifestations and discovering how to harness your capacity for change. Having journeyed through the Web of Power and equipped yourself with the tools of Human Agency to Grasp the Nettle, we now arrive at the ultimate question: Where from Here? It is a clear invitation to face challenges head-on.
Human Agency might just be the glove you need to wear to tackle your life, to become truly empowered and to courageously set an example for others.
Throughout these pages, we have explored core principles for this journey: understanding your individual identity and potential, the power of connection and collaboration, identifying and confronting sources of dysfunction, cultivating a resilient attitude, embracing self-honesty, speaking truth and intentionally forming new habits to transcend limitations. Each of these principles informs and strengthens the others, creating an interconnected framework for empowered living.
The final part, Forward Futures, awaits.
Part 3: Forward Futures: Using Power
Bibliography
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Nussbaum, Martha C. Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2011.
Said, Edward W. Humanism and Democratic Criticism. Columbia University Press, 2004.
Sen, Amartya. Development as Freedom. Alfred A. Knopf, 1999.
Singer, Peter. Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press, 1979.