Amsterdam Declaration

The Amsterdam Declaration of 2002 is a declaration of the fundamental principles of humanism that was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) at the 15th World Humanist Congress on the 50th anniversary of the first IHEU Congress. According to the IHEU, the declaration is “the official representation of secular humanism”. It is supported by all member organizations.

In the English-language explanation, the terms humanist and humanism are, in contrast to the usual lower case of nouns in English, always capitalized and used without attributes .

Content of the declaration

The basic principles of modern humanism are said to be:

Humanism is ethical . It affirms the value, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom that is compatible with the rights of others. Humanists have a duty of care to all of humanity, including future generations. Humanists believe that morality is inherent in human nature and is based on understanding and caring for others without the need for external sanctions.
Humanism is rational . He tries to use science creatively, not destructively. Humanists believe that the solutions to the world's problems lie in human thought and action rather than divine intervention. Humanists advocate the application of scientific methods and free inquiry to the problems of human well-being. But humanists also believe that the application of science and technology must be curbed by human values. Science gives us the means, but human values must give the ends.
Humanism supports democracy and human rights . Humanism aims at the best possible development of every person. He assumes that democracy and human development are a matter of law. The principles of democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are not limited to methods of governance.
Humanism insists that personal freedom must be combined with social responsibility . Humanism dares to build a world on the idea of the socially responsible free human being and recognizes our dependence and responsibility towards the natural world. Humanism is undogmatic and does not impose a creed on its followers. He is therefore committed to education and upbringing free from indoctrination.
Humanism is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religion . The great world religions claim that they are based on revelations that are fixed for eternity, and many seek to impose their worldview on all of humanity. Humanism recognizes that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through an ongoing process of observation, evaluation, and review.
Humanism advocates artistic creativity and imagination and recognizes the transformative power of art . Humanism affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfillment.
Humanism is an attitude towards life that aims at the greatest possible fulfillment through the cultivation of an ethical and creative life and offers an ethical and rational method to meet the challenges of our time. Humanism can be a way of life for anyone anywhere.

Our main task is to make people aware in the simplest way of what humanism can mean for them and what it obliges them to do. By using free inquiry, the power of science, and the creative imagination to promote peace and serve compassion, we feel confident that we have the means to solve the problems we all face. We call on all who share this belief to join us in this endeavor.

history

At the first World Humanist Congress in the Netherlands in 1952, the General Assembly of the IHEU decided to make a declaration of the fundamental principles of modern humanism: the Amsterdam Declaration. At the 15th World Humanist Congress 2002, the IHEU General Assembly unanimously approved an updated version: the "Amsterdam Declaration 2002".

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ "Capitalization [of Humanism ] is not mandatory ... It is recommended usage and the normal usage within IHEU" (Jeremy Webbs, Webmaster of IHEU, on request on March 2, 2006)
↑ Humanism is Eight Letters, No More ( Memento of the original from January 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2 archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ( Harold John Blackham , Levi Fragell, Corliss Lamont , Harry Stopes-Roe and Rob Tielman)

[1] "Capitalization [of Humanism ] is not mandatory ... It is recommended usage and the normal usage within IHEU" (Jeremy Webbs, Webmaster of IHEU, on request on March 2, 2006)

[2] Humanism is Eight Letters, No More ( Memento of the original from January 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2 archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ( Harold John Blackham , Levi Fragell, Corliss Lamont , Harry Stopes-Roe and Rob Tielman)