| Physical description |
viii, 138 pages ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 127-131) and index. |
| Contents |
1. The Human Prospect. The Quest for Meaning. Humanism versus Anti-Humanism -- 2. Courage. The Courage to Become. The Inspiration of Hope. Can Humanism Inspire Hope? -- 3. Cognition. The Rules of Reason. Naturalism. What Is Cognition? Ethical Rationality. Reformist versus Radical Rationality -- 4. Caring. Caring Defined. The Roots of Moral Caring. The Erotic Sources of Caring. Friendship. Altruism. Cognition and Caring. Humanity as a Whole -- 5. What Do We Owe to Posterity? Confronting Death. Facing the Future. Four Ideas of Nature. What Responsibilities Do We Have to Future Generations? Current Prospects. Human Transcendence: The Great Adventure. |
| Summary |
Does life have meaning if one rejects belief in God? This book responds affirmatively to that question. Paul Kurtz, America's leading secular humanist, provides a powerful defense of the humanist alternative, rejecting both religious spirituality and nihilism. In this inspirational book, Kurtz outlines the basic virtues of the secular humanist outlook. These virtues include courage, not simply to be or to survive, but to overcome and become; that is, to fulfill our highest aspirations and ideals in the face of obstacles. The two other virtues Kurtz identifies are cognition (reason and science in establishing truth) and moral caring (compassion and benevolence in our relationships with others). Kurtz offers an optimistic appraisal of the "human prospect" and outlines a philosophy both for the individual and the global community. |
| Subject |
Humanistic ethics.
|
| ISBN |
0275960161 (paperback: alkaline paper) |
|
0275958973 (alkaline paper) |
|
