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"An admirable guide for all those non-religious (surely the true silent majority ?) who may wake up to the fact that they are humanists ... What we have in common is, indeed, not faith but our humanity." --Sir Bernard Crick - Emeritus Professor of Birkbeck College, University of London, and author of Democracy: A Very Short Introduction
"Peter Cave brings to a serious subject his characteristic wit and humour, as well as wide knowledge and sharp insight. This is a very readable introduction to humanism and a deeply human one." --Richard Norman - Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Kent
"Peter Cave brings to a serious subject his characteristic wit and humour, as well as wide knowledge and sharp insight. This is a very readable introduction to humanism and a deeply human one." --Richard Norman - Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Kent
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Why should we believe in God without any evidence? How can there be meaning in life when death is final? With historical adherents including such thinkers as Einstein, Freud, Philip Pullman, and Frank Zappa, "Humanism"'s central quest is to make sense of such questions, explaining the ethical and metaphysical by appealing to shared human values, rationality, and tolerance. Essential reading for atheists, agnostics, ignostics, freethinkers, rationalists, skeptics, and believers too, this Beginner's Guide will explain all aspects of the Humanist philosophy whilst providing an alternative and valuable conception of life without religion.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Peter Cave has written another excellent book. He explores the theme of humanism sensitively, pointing out common misconceptions about humanism that often lead to ill founded criticisms, while at the same time answering the more genuine concerns people have about the subject, and explaining the difficulties humanists have concerning religion. In tackling topics, ranging from, religion, morality, politics, living and dying and the meaning of life, he argues we should take responsibility for our own actions and lives, and treat others as responsible agents based on our intuitive understanding of humanity and its values, rather than defer to religion. Further to do so is not necessarily selfish, neither will it lead to chaos and hedonism, but rather a celebration of best qualities of a very unique species.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I see why other reviews say this is an excellent book. There are some ideas in the book that need working at but plenty's accessible.... gives me a much wider learning of humanist thoughts and it's nice it's not an atheist rant but thoughtful and even light in places...what i'd discovered in his perplexing philosophy puzzle books. Middle stuff on intelligent design is a bit difficult...must account for the couple of negative comments.... but later chapters on politics and ethics and what we ought to do in tricky situations are great...and i did like the fishes idea of heaven.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This title is a welcome addition to the current glut of pro-/anti-religion books. The author is an atheist, a philosopher and an entertaining writer. He is an ideal expositor of humanism, that broad non-church which counts an increasing number of atheists, agnostics and even some vaguely theistic 'non-religious' people among its ranks. In its less than 200 pages (including prologue, appendices and index) it briefly but lucidly encompasses the history of humanism (it didn't always have the secular connotations it enjoys today) and what it can bring to the analysis of our most important human questions- the meaning of life (if such there be), the existence or otherwise of God and gods, how we should treat each other, our fellow creatures, and our environment in general. Tough questions of life and death (such as abortion and euthanasia) are unflinchingly explored, as are notions of how we should live in political terms: the roots of (classical) liberalism and libertarianism are especially closely discussed. The various ethical theories- deontological, virtue and utilitarian- are explored and critiqued. The latter has, historically, been closely associated with humanist thought, but that does not prevent Dr Cave from criticising it. This is a strength of the book; while written by a humanist and (gently) promoting that worldview, it is not strident nor strongly partisan in tone, unlike some of the 'New Atheist' books of recent years. Dr Cave is surely right, for example, to criticise western secularists (myself included) who, along with western Christians (among others) 'talk the talk' about our duty to give our surplus money to those of our fellow humans living in absolute need elsewhere in the world... yet who fail to 'walk the walk' and instead buy ourselves ever more 'stuff' instead. He is also right to flag up the unfortunate common humanist tendency to commit 'speciesism'- that is, to consider all members of our own species to be *fundamentally* different in *every* way from the members of all non-human species. While the religious make this error as a matter of course they at least have an 'excuse' in that they believe that humans have a God-given soul while non-human animals do not; secularists have no such 'out', of course, and so Dr Cave is correct to warn us off thinking of humans and other self-aware creatures (chimps, say) as *fundamentally* morally different when considering their welfare.... this tendency is an unfortunate by-product of the word 'humanist', I fear. The style of writing is light and self-deprecating, as with this author's other works. It is studded with little quips which make the somewhat 'heavy' subject matter more enjoyable..... though Dr Cave's antipathy towards those who make noise in urban and suburban areas- and especially in public libraries!- is touched upon just a bit TOO often..... ;) Another nice feature of the work is the occasional 'box-outs' concerning past humanist thinkers, what they stood for and their memorable sayings. All in all this book forms a useful, readable introduction to the subject; those non-humanists who wish to learn what the term means and why it appeals to many others would do well to enquire here, while even those who have called themselves humanists for many years- such as myself- will certainly learn something to their philosophical advantage.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Humanism
This is a beginner's guide, but it's not lightweight. The author outlines the Humanist positions of the great philosophers. Read more
Published 1 month ago by CB
I didn't get beyond Chapter 2
I'm a Humanist, and bought this book to learn more about Humanism. However, the author's writing style was dreadfully pompous, and I abandoned it after a couple of chapters. Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by Bev
Humanism
This book is extremely well structured. It offers a very clear view of every aspect of humanism. In my opinion it should be read by all people who have open minds and especially... Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by Old Bookworm
I think I get what is being said!
This book is being sold as a Beginner's Guide, and though I do think I get the plot of what is being said by the author, it's hard work. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2009 by Bookeater
A Human Humanist!
>
> As I guess one might reasonably have anticpated from his books on Philosophical Paradoxes, Peter Cave manages to make this subject hugely accessible. Read more
> As I guess one might reasonably have anticpated from his books on Philosophical Paradoxes, Peter Cave manages to make this subject hugely accessible. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2009 by Philosophy Fan
A great introduction and a good read
Humanism is a fascinating topic, and Peter Cave manages to impart a wealth of information in the witty style of an after dinner speech.
Published on 27 May 2009 by S. Mathies
Thoughtful, Human and Humourous
A great and very readable introduction to what it means to be a Humanist from Peter Cave, who is getting a reputation for explaining some of life's complex thoughts in a... Read more
Published on 15 May 2009 by B.Right.On
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