Human Dignity and the Need for a Humanist Revival

In the world today, we witness a disturbing trend. Human beings by all indications increasingly view their own human nature as a weakness, a failure, not something to be proud of at all. It has been a trend throughout history for human beings to hide their own humanity behind as many facades as they can, as many "alternate identities" as they can; always trying to play down the fact that they are simply human beings by emphasizing nationality, religion, culture, language etc. as if it made them something more than human. Upholding the values promoted by such sources over and above their own sense of humanity. It is as though human beings are afraid of the human condition itself and are in a constant state of denial and self-deception. Is it any wonder therefore that human beings constantly abuse themselves and others while turning to ever more extreme creeds and practices in order to give meaning to their lives? If these people have no faith in their dignity as human beings, are such consequences not to be expected?

The Postmodern Fallacy

The principles of “self-creation” now beloved of so many postmodernists, presuppose that no meaning exists in the world beyond what we as individuals create for ourselves. This conception of reality has grown in popularity among the rebellious minds of the twentieth century, minds eager to deny all higher forms of authority that might constrain them. If everything is relative to individual interpretation, there is no legitimate authority.

Ultimately self-creation is a principle that makes little sense; if someone finds meaning only in themselves and what they make of the world, by logical extension they cannot derive meaning from the world itself (because theories of self-creation describe the world as having no meaning beyond what we ourselves put into it).
If this is the case, numerous things become impossible. Community becomes impossible because if everyone creates meaning for themselves there can be none of the shared sense of meaning that forms the basis of the communal spirit. Indeed, shared expressions of any kind become untenable. Relationships become meaningless as people only take meaning from their own self and not from interaction with others, who would presumably have their own highly individualistic sense of meaning that would be incompatible anyway.

Self-Assurance and the Need for Balance in the Face of Extremism

Given the ideological character of the fundamentalism and terrorism (as well as the often useless reactionary responses to them) that plagues us at this time it is absolutely clear that in order to combat it we must adopt mental and spiritual, as well as physical defenses – and there is no defense so effective as embracing the true spirit of humanity and thus rejecting the hatred preached by sectarians of all kinds. The psychological aim of realizing one’s purpose and fulfilling one’s potential as a human being is a strong sense of self-assurance and self-actualization via the perfection and utilization of one’s capabilities. This process builds a sense of conviction with regard to one’s role in the world and boosts individual confidence and willpower to a great and laudable extent.

However, we must differentiate this form of self-assurance that arises from self-fulfillment with the fanaticism that emerges out of total devotion to a cause. Fanaticism does breed a sense of complete self-assurance, indeed, a self-assurance so complete that they come to live by the maxim of the ends justifies the means; all forms of barbarity and perversity are thus cast in a golden light as being what is necessary for the realization of a greater and all-consuming cause. This is alienation of the worst kind and its effects have lead to full-scale human slaughter on numerous occasions throughout history.

The Guardian Species

Even if a single element within the natural framework is destroyed, its effects will be felt by the entirety. Unless we as human beings realize that with great power comes with great responsibility we will drive ourselves to our own destruction through the destruction and that which we were meant to protect. Ecology is clear: the most powerful species of a food web acts as its guardian and steward; ensuring that everything remains in its natural place and in its natural order – it is a role that all guardian species human beings embrace instinctually without question. Because we are capable of rational choice, we are conscious of our own power and while a shark or lion would never abuse its natural authority, we can and overwhelmingly do. We have become so enchanted by our power, its potential, and especially the technological marvels that it generates that we have almost forgotten the natural role that everyone in the ancient world accepted as a fundamental part of life as a human. Now the world is viewed as an object to shape in our own image as opposed to a living organism that we are a natural part of with our own role to play and our own intrinsic responsibilities as beings in nature.