Philosophy:Evolutionary Humanism

Julian Huxley, founder of Evolutionary Humanism.

The book "New Bottles for New Wine" by Julian Huxley, 1957, contains a collection of his essays beginning with "Transhumanism" and ending with "Evolutionary Humanism". In the latter essay, Huxley called for a new religion compatible with science.

'Evolutionary Humanism' is the English language name of a book by Dr Michael Schmidt-Salomon which suggests that evolutionary theory has implications for morality. Schmidt argues that the theory of evolution does not prescribe a particular set of moral values but it does require people to consider their moral principles free from religious beliefs. Belief in evolution should be combined with a modern humanist philosophy.

Another theory of 'Evolutionary Humanism' is being developed by self-styled philosopher, Roland Herrmann, which holds that human behaviors, emotions, morals, feelings, and thought processes can be traced backward along the human evolutionary tree, rising in earlier animals. The theory holds that these emotions and behaviors are present on a variety of levels in various other species of animals, not only in primates and cetaceans in which these behaviors are most obvious. By recognizing that other animals can be sentient and can have complex thought processes and relationships, a closer bond and stewardship of the planet is necessary. Mr. Herrmann’s earlier website on this subject, www.evolutionaryhumanism.org, was transferred and is no longer associated with his school of thought.

See also

• Religious Humanism
• Religious Naturalism
• Transhumanism