Het Center for Inquiry Low Countries organiseert zaterdag 16 oktober een Engelstalig symposium over moraal en politiek secularisme. Locatie: Kromme Nieuwegracht 29 (Universiteit voor Humanistiek), Utrecht Entree: vrije toegang Contact: Floris van den Berg: florisvandenberg@dds.nl The Secular OutlookSymposium on Moral and Political SecularismThe Secular Outlook:In Defense ofMoral and PoliticalSecularism shows how people can live together and overcome the challenge of religious terrorism by adopting a “secular outlook” on life and politics. In his book Cliteur shows how secularism can answer the problem of religious terrorism; he provides new perspectives on how religious minorities can be integrated into liberal democracies, reveals how secularism has gained a new political and moral significance, and also examines such topics as atheism, religious criticism and free speech. In this symposium secularists, humanists, freethinkers & atheists will address the question what secularism entails. Program 12.30-13.00: entrance with coffee/tea 13.00-13.10: Welcome by Rob Tielman (chairman CFI LC) 13.10-13.20: Floris van den Berg on humanism and secularism: secular humanism 13.20-13.30: Spoken column by Dick Metselaar 13.30-14.50: Paul Cliteur presents The Secular Outlook 14.50-15.05: Humanist intermezzo by Joep Schrijvers 15.05-15.25: break 15.25-16.05: Keynote: Stephen Law, author of The War for Children’s Minds, on secular education 16.05-16.35: Herman Philipse on secularism & atheism 16.35-17:15: (panel) discussion lead by Joep Schrijvers 17:15-18.00: reception Speakers’ Bios Floris van den Berg, co-executive director of CFI Low Countries, teaches environmental ethics at Utrecht University and is the author of Filosofie voor een betere wereld. He blogs at http://verlichtingshumanisten.web-log.nl/. Paul Cliteur is a philosopher as well as professor of jurisprudence at Leiden University. He is the author of many books, among which Moreel Esperanto. The Secular Outlook is his first book in English. Stephen Law is a humanist philosopher and chairman of CFI UK. He popularizes philosophy for children as well for adults. In his book The War for Children’s Minds he pleas for a liberal, humanist education and educational system. He blogs here: http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/ Dick Metselaar is actively involved in internationally organized humanism. He is also the poet laureate of the city of Deventer. Herman Philipse is university professor at Utrecht University and outspoken atheist and secularist. Recently he published Filosofische polemieken, a collections of his essays. A large collection of his public lectures has been published on audio by Home Academy, including Godsgeloof of atheïsme. Joep Schrijvers established the enlightenment humanist think tank. Schrijvers is a management trainer, and author of, among many other books, Hoe word ik een rat? Rob Tielman, chairman CFI Low Countries, is a prominent leader in organized humanism nationally and internationally. Recently a compilation of his work has been published, Rob Tielman, begeesterd humanist. The purpose of the Center for Inquiry is to promote and defend reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor.www.cfilowcountries.org Secular humanism Secular humanism is a secular philosophy that espouses reason, ethics, and justice, and specifically rejects supernatural and religious dogma as the basis of morality and decision-making. Secular humanism is a life stance that focuses on the way human beings can lead good, happy and functional lives. Secular humanism is distinguished from various other humanisms. Though secular humanism posits that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion, or god, that is not to say it assumes humans to be inherently or innately good. Nor does it present humans as ‘above nature’ or superior to it; by contrast, the humanist life stance emphasizes the unique responsibility facing humanity and the consequences of our ethical decisions. The term secular humanism was coined in the 20th century by the philosopher Paul Kurtz (founder of the Center for Inquiry Transnational), and was adopted by non-religious humanists in order to make a clear distinction from religious humanism. Secular humanism is also called scientific humanism. Biologist E. O. Wilson called it ‘the only worldview compatible with science’s growing knowledge of the real world and the laws of nature’. Fundamental to the concept of secular humanism is the strongly held belief that ideology--be it religious or political--must be examined by each individual and not simply accepted on faith. Along with this belief, an essential part of secular humanism is an ongoing search for objective truth, which is seen to be continually adapting and changing. Secular humanism describes a worldview with the following elements and principles:
- Need to test beliefs – A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted by faith.
- Reason, evidence, scientific method – A commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence and scientific methods of inquiry in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
- Fulfillment, growth, creativity – A primary concern with fulfillment, growth and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
- Search for truth – A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
- This life – A concern for this life (as opposed to an afterlife) and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
- Ethics – A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
- Building a better world – A conviction that with reason, an open exchange of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and future generations.
