On what basis do humanists determine what is right and wrong?

Question

This is how I am defining humanism: A variety of ethical theory and practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input on this question. What I was really getting at is what is the objective moral basis apart from a theistic framework. In my mind all other frameworks are subjective in nature or determined by culture.

Answer 1

Nice question. I would say that any normative statement about ethics within the sphere of humanism is at best weak, at worst a downright filthy lie. Since rejecting God is by default a rejection of absolute principles (without a spiritual reality defined by a god, there is no metaphysical basis for absolute morality), any claim they make to adhering to absolutes is not in good faith (no pun intended).

Not only does humanism mean a rejection of God, but it originally denoted the specific rejection of Christ as a deity. It was a sect of people who pointedly denied Christ's work of salvation. So, our whole society is now based on an anti-Christ doctrine, out of which stemmed psychology and all the social sciences. Most of modern man's current paradigms come from the assertion that Christ was not divine. The idea of Christian Psychology, then, is a contradiction in terms. And further, the "social gospel" is a heretical, watered down version of Christianity as well, because it stems from the humanistic notion that the most important thing is to save people on this earth, using earthly tools, not leading them to Christ.

Answer 2

From the Judeo-Christian paradigm right and wrong are not ‘just what God decided’ they are based on God’s understanding of our nature. God’s laws are ‘good’ for us.

So, in theory, ever if one did not believe in God, an honest look at human nature should reveal some clues as to what laws would be in our best interest.

A humanist/atheist wouldn’t see the point in honoring God or keeping the Sabbath holy, but they would probably go along with respecting parents, and avoiding murder, adultery, theft and perjury.

So humanists determine right and wrong on the same basis that Christians believe God determines right and wrong. An understanding of human nature.

One can of course debate if humanists actually understand human nature, but that’s a different question.
;-)

Answer 3

Trick question. Its phrasing suggests that the answer has something to do with being a humanist or believing in God. On what basis do believers determine what is right or wrong, such as which parts of the bible to obey and which to ignore or treat as mistranslations? (e.g. "And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death (Exodus 21:17)." ) The answer is the same. Whether the precise mechanism within the brain is understood or not, we make the call based on information at our disposal. Abortion would not be as accepted (in the US) if humans were dying out as a species, the "summer of love" was a reaction to the death and destruction of war, etc. Morals are contextual.

Answer 4

Phoenix Quill's answer speaks my mind. Blondone's succinct answer raises more questions, such as, how do we become sure that the message we hear is truly from or of God? The line between right and wrong has been, is, and shall be hard to define. Perhaps we can agree that humanists operate as humans, and that humans are by definition those who must struggle with issues of right and wrong in the specifics of their individual lives.

Answer 5

I don't believe that there is such a thing as right or wrong. Its too gross of an oversimplification. There is only the actions you take and the consequences to those choices. I personally let my Medial Pre Frontal Cortex do all of my moral work. Its the area of the brain that recieves increased bloodflow when you put yourself in someone elses experience. Its where empathy comes from. Any moral systems that are based around rewards or punishments outside of the consequences of our actions are a perversion of human morality.

Answer 6

Humanist has laid down the law and rules on Human Rights. International lawyers have a strong basis and foundation used by them. These had long been laid down and act as their guidance in givng their judgment to human rights violations. The wrongness could easily be drawn being the opposite of righteosness.

Answer 7

What promotes the greatest happiness throughout the population might be defined as "right" and what promotes misery might be "wrong."

Answer 8

I determine right and wrong by God's word. There is no question. His word is infallible.

Answer 9

Money