A MANIFESTO FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

The International Academy of Humanism, a Specialist member of IHEU, has issued Humanist Manifesto 2000: A Call for a New Planetary Humanism. This is the second major document issued by the International Academy of Humanism, whose membership is made of distinguished philosophers, renowned intellectuals and Nobel prize winning scientists. Humanist Manifesto 2000 was drafted by Prof. Paul Kurtz, President of the Academy, and former co-President of IHEU.

At the 1988 IHEU's 10th World Humanist Congress at Buffalo, USA, the International Academy of Humanism issued A Declaration of Interdependence: A New Global Ethics. This ground breaking document which called for the building of a world community on the basis of universal values was in fact issued much before the widely-quoted Declaration towards a Global Ethic (authored by Catholic theologian Dr. Hans Küng), adopted by the Chicago Parliament of World Religions in 1993.

Issued in September this year, Humanist Manifesto 2000 has already received endorsement from many members of the International Academy of Humanism, as also humanist leaders and opinion makers from several countries, including 11 Nobel Laureates.

Tracing its inspiration to the eighteenth century Age of Enlightenment, the Manifesto proposes scientific naturalism as the sole means to construct a coherent worldview disentangled from metaphysics or theology. Rejecting spiritual interpretations of reality, the Manifesto identifies science as the universal language for the modern world - comprehensible to all, irrespective of cultural backgrounds. Presenting itself as post-postmodernist in its outlook, and aiming to draw on the best values of modernity, the Manifesto deplores the postmodern disdain for concepts like universal human rights and democratic values, and postmodernism's denial of the objectivity of science. The Manifesto also regrets that the religious dimension to the various conflicts in the world, as well as the alarming growth of the forces of unreason, are not adequately acknowledged.

A Century of Achievement

Surveying this century, the Manifesto points out that despite terrible wars and violent social and political unrest, this has been a century of significant achievement for humanity. Scientific research has expanded our knowledge of the universe, and has also had far reaching impact on human welfare. The discoveries of DNA and molecular biology continue to reveal the mechanisms of evolution and those of life itself. Scientific medicine has increased longevity, and reduced pain and suffering. Today women enjoy increased personal autonomy, legal and social rights, and greater equality. Access to education and opportunities for cultural enrichment have become more democratised than ever. The 19th century colonial empires have disappeared, the threat of totalitarianism has abated, and a new global ethics is emerging where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is accepted by most nations of the world, at least in word, if not in deed. The Green Revolution has reduced hunger, and raised levels of nutrition for large portions of the globe. Technological discoveries have reduced distances, vastly accelerated our means of communication, and revolutionised the means of information delivery.

Even though not all is well with human affairs, for the first time in human history we possess the means - provided by science and technology - to ameliorate the human condition, to advance happiness and freedom, and to enhance human life for all people on the planet.

Humanism is an ethical, scientific, and philosophical outlook that has changed the world. Humanist ideals have been progenitors of the future: at the time of the Enlightenment, Humanism germinated new ideals of social justice, and inspired the democratic revolutions of our time. For the modern world Humanism has helped frame a new ethical outlook emphasising the values of freedom and happiness and the virtues of universal human rights. In this century there have already been two Manifestos from North America: Humanist Manifesto I of 1933 and Humanist Manifesto II of 1973. (There was another significant one: New Humanism, A Manifesto, issued in 1947 in India by M.N. Roy and his colleagues in the Radical Humanist Movement. This document issued by a founder vice President of IHEU is unfortunately not mentioned by the present Manifesto). All these Manifestos express a renewed confidence in the power of human beings to solve their own problems, and point to newer directions for mankind's progress.

Making the case for a new formulation of humanist aspirations, Humanist Manifesto 2000 points out that Humanist Manifesto II (also drafted by Prof. Kurtz, but issued by the American Humanist Association, a full member of IHEU) was written after the second world war, and the defeat of fascism. Issued in the wake of growing influence of Marxism-Leninism, the Cold War, and the new moral revolution, Humanist Manifesto II defended human rights on a global scale, sought democratisation of the economic systems, called for support to the UN, and argued for the right to birth control, abortion, divorce, sexual freedom between consenting adults, and euthanasia. It sought to protect the rights of minorities, women, the elderly, abused children, and the disadvantaged. Most of these issues are still relevant today, and reiterated in Humanist Manifesto 2000. However, the last few decades have seen far-reaching changes in the world: the collapse of totalitarian communism, dissipation of the Cold War power-blocks, globalisation of the world's economy, globalisation of the media, wide spread acceptance of democracy, creation of transnational conglomerates, flaring up of ethnic-religious rivalries, menacing growth of religious fundamentalism and general irrationalism, unchecked growth in population, environmental disaster in the making, and there is also the information revolution … the new situation requires the Humanist movement to formulate an adequate response.

Planetary Humanism

Humanist Manifesto 2000

points out that in this context, the overriding need of the world community today is to develop a new Planetary Humanism - one that seeks to preserve human rights, enhance human freedom and dignity, but also emphasises our commitment to humanity as a whole. We all have a supreme obligation towards each other, as well as the future inheritors of the earth: a Planetary Bill of Rights and Responsibilities is called for. The global agenda for Planetary Humanism would include matters of global security, human development, social justice, international law, protection of the environment, and social and economic accountability of transnational conglomerates. The endorsers of the Manifesto invite the diverse world cultures, including the major religious traditions, to seek shared values on the basis of which a partnership can be forged to shape our collective destiny in the new millennium. However, Humanist Manifesto 2000 is unambiguous that in the context of the challenge, it will be only by marshalling reason, science, and human endeavour, that mankind will emerge triumphant.

The Manifesto makes several suggestions for the reform of global institutions, for example, it calls for enhancing the effectiveness of the UN by converting it from an assembly of sovereign states to a bicameral World Parliament, with a house of representatives elected by people (on the model of Europe), functioning along side the present General Assembly of Nations. The UN Charter needs to be amended, and the veto in the Security Council for the Big Five should be repealed. An international system of taxation (not voluntary contribution) in order to assist the underdeveloped sectors of the human family should be introduced. We should begin with a tax levied on the GNP of all nations, the proceeds to be used for economic and social assistance and development - and safe guards should ensure transnational companies pay their fair share of global tax.

After an inspiring read, the critic could justifiably wonder why the Manifesto felt it necessary to introduce the new term Planetary Humanism or even call the attitude it propounds new - Humanism has always been Universalist in its embrace, in its conception, as well as in its attempts to humanise our institutions, whether national or global. A few others might ask if some of its proposals on the reform or creation of planetary institutions are not the same as those worked out in greater detail by several International NGOs (see article on Global Governance in this issue). Still others may query if some of the analysis of the problems may not still have subliminal traces of a North American perspective despite evident effort to overcome the bias.

The real significance and strength of Humanist Manifesto 2000 is that it reiterates our moral obligation to the welfare of all others on the planet, indicates the general direction forward in a spirit of openness and inclusiveness, and links these to humanist philosophy and principles. Most importantly, the Manifesto eloquently calls for a rejection of nihilistic philosophies of doom and despair, and those that fester in fear and foreboding, thus making a timely, emphatic and inspiring case for nurturing optimism about the Human Prospect.