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Author: Wei Djao
Publisher: Ginger Post World Incorporated
ISBN: 9780981325163
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Book Description
Confucius and Lao Zi (active around 500 BCE) were the originators of the two major philosophical traditions in China, Confucian and daoist. They formulated their viewpoints without any claim to divine or supernatural revelations, and without any invocation of religious authority. They simply proposed ideas they thought were essential for people to live by as individuals, in society, and in this world, without the guidance of any religion but instead with that of a humanist philosophy. Lao Zi's daoist philosophy is sadly confused by many with the daoist religion, which was founded around 140 CE. Seeing humankind as a part of the universe, Lao Zi never hints at the creation of the world by supernatural beings. In fact, the Book of Lao Zi presents an atheist natural self-generation of the universe, as part of a humanist philosophy. Confucius and Lao Zi emphasize different yet similar virtues that people should practice with the underlying assumption that every human being is perfectible, each by one's own efforts. This view differs greatly from the belief in many religious traditions that humankind is stained by an original sin or other evil thus requiring redemption through religion. The experience of the Chinese people shows that human beings can make ethical and humane moral decisions without religious input. If this phenomenon could take place in one society for thousands of years, then the argument that all people must have religion as their moral compass to guide them becomes specious. Personal cultivation of character is illustrated in A Humanist Path by the life stories of people in China and beyond. World events, historical and contemporary, discussed in connection with the ancient thinkers' teachings demonstrate their relevance in the 21st century. Questions of who decides on moral standards in society, and how do human beings make moral and ethical decisions assist readers in making moral and ethical choices in today's world. In the second edition, parts of the final chapter have been clarified. Both the List of References and the Index have been expanded. The new subtitle is more explicit and accurate regarding the content of the book. Wei Djao was born in Shanghai and grew up in Hong Kong. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Sociology, specializing in China Studies, from the University of Toronto. She taught Sociology and Global/Asian Studies in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong. She has published scholarly articles and books on the Chinese people and Chinese civilization.
Author: Wei Djao
Publisher: Ginger Post World Incorporated
ISBN: 9780981325163
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 0
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Book Description
Confucius and Lao Zi (active around 500 BCE) were the originators of the two major philosophical traditions in China, Confucian and daoist. They formulated their viewpoints without any claim to divine or supernatural revelations, and without any invocation of religious authority. They simply proposed ideas they thought were essential for people to live by as individuals, in society, and in this world, without the guidance of any religion but instead with that of a humanist philosophy. Lao Zi's daoist philosophy is sadly confused by many with the daoist religion, which was founded around 140 CE. Seeing humankind as a part of the universe, Lao Zi never hints at the creation of the world by supernatural beings. In fact, the Book of Lao Zi presents an atheist natural self-generation of the universe, as part of a humanist philosophy. Confucius and Lao Zi emphasize different yet similar virtues that people should practice with the underlying assumption that every human being is perfectible, each by one's own efforts. This view differs greatly from the belief in many religious traditions that humankind is stained by an original sin or other evil thus requiring redemption through religion. The experience of the Chinese people shows that human beings can make ethical and humane moral decisions without religious input. If this phenomenon could take place in one society for thousands of years, then the argument that all people must have religion as their moral compass to guide them becomes specious. Personal cultivation of character is illustrated in A Humanist Path by the life stories of people in China and beyond. World events, historical and contemporary, discussed in connection with the ancient thinkers' teachings demonstrate their relevance in the 21st century. Questions of who decides on moral standards in society, and how do human beings make moral and ethical decisions assist readers in making moral and ethical choices in today's world. In the second edition, parts of the final chapter have been clarified. Both the List of References and the Index have been expanded. The new subtitle is more explicit and accurate regarding the content of the book. Wei Djao was born in Shanghai and grew up in Hong Kong. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Sociology, specializing in China Studies, from the University of Toronto. She taught Sociology and Global/Asian Studies in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong. She has published scholarly articles and books on the Chinese people and Chinese civilization.
Author: Wei Djao
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 236
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Book Description
Confucius and Lao Zi (active around 500 BCE) were the originators of the two major philosophical traditions in China, Confucian and daoist. They formulated their viewpoints without any claim to divine or supernatural revelations, and without any invocation of religious authority. They simply proposed ideas they thought were essential for people to live by as individuals and in society, in this world. This general aim is pursued differently by the two thinkers, but there are also similarities. Thus Chinese culture has evolved and developed without the guidance of any religion but instead with that of a humanist philosophy.In many books and websites in English on Lao Zi today, his philosophical ideas are confused with the daoist religion, which was founded in 150 CE. Seeing the humankind as a part of the universe, Lao Zi never hints at the creation of the world by supernatural beings, although they were there in ancient myths. In fact, the Book of Lao Zi presents an atheist natural self-generation of the universe, as part of a humanist philosophy. Furthermore, neither Lao Zi nor Confucius promises an existence after death in another form or in another place. When asked about death, Confucius' reply was how could we understand death if we don't understand life. Confucius and Lao Zi emphasize developing and practicing qualities such as kindness, constant learning, justice, sincerity, enjoyment of fine arts, and a few others. Some qualities are promoted by both philosophers while a few by just one of them. These qualities are summed up by Confucius as ren which is best translated as "human-heartedness" or simply "humanity." The underlying assumption is that every human being is perfectible, each by the person's own efforts. This is of course very different from the belief in the Abrahamic and other religious traditions that humankind is stained by the original sin or some sort of evil thus requiring redemption through religion. The qualities or virtues listed above are taught by many other religions too. But a distinctive feature in Chinese philosophy is that even though there were, before the time of Confucius and Lao Zi, such concepts as a god called the Lord on High and later the heaven as a supreme spiritual being, the emphasis since the time of Confucius and Lao Zi has been on personal efforts in relation to a human being's life in this world. The qualities deemed by the two thinkers as essential to a human being's character development are discussed against the historical background of constant warfare. However, their ideas and arguments are rendered understandable as they are illustrated by the life stories of people in China and other lands. World events, historical and contemporary, discussed in the book demonstrate the relevance of their teachings in the 21st century for people around the world. In addition to examining the shortcomings in the teachings of the two thinkers, A Humanist Path addresses two related issues: who decides on moral standards in society, and how do human beings make moral and ethical decisions? It assists readers in making moral and ethical choices. In the post-theistic and humanist age across the globe today, this humanist path offers useful insights for personal growth and community building as they are available to all human beings regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, language, worldview, geography or other differences. It's a way of living that focuses on human beings without the guidance of organized religion. Generations of Chinese have used these ideas as guideposts in their life's journey and in making moral decisions. It can thus be seen from the experience of one people that human beings can make ethical, humane, wise and courageous moral decisions without the guidance of religion. If this phenomenon could take place in one society for thousands of years then the argument that all people must have religion as the moral compass to guide them becomes specious.
Author: Edward L Ericson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780989732369
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 220
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Book Description
"Humanism is a view of the world, of each person's relation to other people, of the unity of humanity, of its place in the whole fabric of life against the background of our planet and our universe, of - but read Ed Ericson's book and see." -Isaac Asimov "'The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it, ' wrote Bertrand Russell. Wise and thoughtful men and women in all ages have agreed that the greatest lives are those given to the well-being of others." "Many who belong to no church or sect - along with many who do - when asked to identify their creed, will reply simply: 'My religion is the golden rule.' Or they will answer 'Formal church doctrines and theologies are not important to me. The way I relate to others and to myself is all that finally matters.' Without perhaps having a label for their faith, such people - to the degree that they live by these convictions - are practicing the essence of Humanist religion." -Edward L. Ericson, from The Humanist Way
Author: Bob Bhaerman
Publisher: Humanist Press
ISBN: 9780931779718
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 156
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Book Description
This collection of essays from the personal, inspirational stories of leaders in the humanist movement will be published on May 23, 2016. Why do people become humanists? Those religiously opposed to humanism often think (and say on the Internet) that people become humanists out of pride, narcissism, and a desire to pursue a depraved life free of moral judgment. Personal Paths to Humanism is not only a sound refutation of the absurd claim of humanism's detractors, it is truly inspirational to read. We asked a cross-section of American Humanist Association leaders and members to simply tell us their stories and they did! Many came to humanism from various religions-some mild, some strict-while others came from secular backgrounds. Some came to humanism at an early age, others later in life. A few experienced rapid change, but most came to it gradually. The variety in such transformations, and their causes, proved stunning-but so did the similarities! Beyond this, we discovered that when people share their life journeys with us, a bond occurs. We not only learn but we identify. Humanist ideas aren't just a set of philosophical abstractions; they are living things, arrived at by processes of change that we recognize and feel. While we release this initial volume in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the American Humanist Association in 2016, we're so impressed by the nature of these stories that we are getting ready to receive more personal stories for a second volume. In the long run, we hope to build a perpetual archive of life stories to inspire future generations of humanists.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Hindu philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 424
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Book Description
Author: John Edward Toews
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521316361
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 468
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Book Description
This is a study of the rise of Hegelian thought in the nineteenth century.
Author: Kendyl L. R. Gibbons
Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
ISBN: 1558967834
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 234
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Book Description
In this highly anticipated collection, Unitarian Universalist Humanists present their faith perspectives in 23 engaging and thought-provoking essays. The contributors, both lay and ordained, demonstrate why Humanism has been one of the bedrock theologies of Unitarian Universalism for the last hundred years. They reflect on what it means to be a religious Humanist today and how they see the movement evolving in the twenty-first century. They explore Humanist history, beliefs, approach to life, social justice, community, and religious education. Together, these voices proclaim a passionate affirmation of a rich and dynamic tradition within Unitarian Universalism.
Author: Tony Davies
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134836120
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 161
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Book Description
Humanism offers students a clear and lucid introductory guide to the complexities of Humanism, one of the most contentious and divisive of artistic or literary concepts. Showing how the concept has evolved since the Renaissance period, Davies discusses humanism in the context of the rise of Fascism, the onset of World War II, the Holocaust, and their aftermath. Humanism provides basic definitions and concepts, a critique of the religion of humanity, and necessary background on religious, sexual and political themes of modern life and thought, while enlightening the debate between humanism, modernism and antihumanism through the writings and works of such key figures as Pico Erasmus, Milton, Nietzsche, and Foucault.
Author: Radhakamal Mukerjee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 292
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Book Description
Author: Marcell Sebők
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000430502
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 218
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Book Description
A Humanist on the Frontier explores the remarkable life of Sebastian Ambrosius, a sixteenth-century Lutheran minister and intellectual from Késmárk (now Kežmarok) in present-day Slovakia, formerly on the borderland of the Kingdom of Hungary. Through an examination of Ambrosius’ publications and correspondence, this book throws new light on the dynamics of urban communities in Upper Hungary, communication within the humanist Republic of Letters in both Central European and wider European networks, and ecclesiastical controversies. Adopting methods of microhistory and cultural history, it also reconstructs Ambrosius’ life by positioning him in various contexts that trace his relationship to, and interpretations of, themes of power, tradition, vocation, communication and identity. This book is essential reading for scholars and students of early modern European history, as well as those interested in microhistory, cultural history, and the Republic of Letters.
