Summary
Title: In Search of Our Humanity: Neither Paradise Nor Hell
Author: Valerii A. Kuvakin
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1573928852
Pro:
• Demonstrates that humanism isn’t solely an American or European concern
Con:
• Highly technical, may not be suitable for casual readers
Description:
• Analysis of the nature of humanity and what it means to be human
• Exploration of the values central to a critical, reasonable humanism
Book Review
Russian philosopher Valerii A. Kuvakin does not shy away from tackling the nature of humanity and makes this the focus of his book In Search of Our Humanity: Neither Paradise Nor Hell. Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Moscow State University and executive director of the Center for Inquiry in Moscow, Kuvakin aims to define the nature of humanity not through outside forces but through humanity itself.
Too often, definitions of humanity have been based upon things that are not human or upon what humans are not. Christians have, for example, common defined humans as having been created in the image of God, and some scientists have defined humans as being not like the rest of the animal kingdom. Kuvakin, however, insists on eschewing the use of characteristics external or transcendental to humanity. Kuvakin writes:
- "In order to understand the place of human beings in the world, we should think in a human framework, we should recognize the personality as a central reality, the only starting point, from which it is possible to understand anything that happens both on earth and in the heavens. ...Even if I were to believe in God as a transcendental reality, I should still have as clear an understanding as possible of who I am as a believer in the god who created me."
Focusing on the human rather than the divine is perhaps one of the most important defining characteristics of humanism. The humanist view of life is distinguished from most traditional religions by the fact that in humanism it is the needs and problems of human beings that takes center stage rather than the desires or agendas of various gods.
How is it that humanism addresses these needs and problems? Kuvakin outlines a series of basic “humanist values” that must be fundamental to any humanist program - values like reason, creativity, knowledge, the scientific method, and free inquiry. He contrasts them with “anti-values,” principles that stand opposed to humanism, like faith, greed, misinformation, corruption, and addiction.
- “The theoretical, educational, and social practice of contemporary secular humanism is resistant to irrationalism, faith in the transcendental, and mysticism. The ideas and values of secular humanism criticize belief in the supernatural and paranormal, while defending both science and common sense. ...The humanist message is important and truthful; it provides people with the results of sober, independent, responsible thinking and conduct. It opens people to the contemporary prospects of creative personal fulfillment in this naturally beautiful and wonderful world.”
We could all benefit from spending more time thinking and talking about it means to be human and Kuvakin‘s could be an important resource for that. Unfortunately, it can be rather technical in many places, and that probably puts it outside what the average non-academic person will want to read.
