Editorial

The topic of the Mexico IHEU congress was humanism In the cyber-age – and it is a key issue for humanists today. As Mario Bunge, the writer and philosopher from Argentina living in Canada pointed out, technological innovation can be ambiguous, but is unavoidable. But the ease of contact around the world and the increase of information available to national and international humanist organisations.

We will have networks of individuals freely communicating and thinking freely with each other. This is the essence of humanism. The expansion of information is likely to make secretive government more difficult. The possibility for rapid transmission of information about demonstrations or protests – as has been happening in situations such as the opposition to President Milosovic in Serbia – may change the balance of power.

The Internet will – for a period – be available to an elite of well-off, educated and to some extent, young people. But this may change and these facilities may become very widespread, as has the television. And the access and the exchange of information can be essentially democratic, cutting across class, national and age barriers.

The international humanist movement ought particularly to benefit from the exchange of information. Isolated individuals with no contact with other humanists may be able to enter a community of worldwide humanists. Humanism as a self-aware, organised life stance is a minority position in the world. In many parts of the world, humanists feel they are alone and unorganised. The dissemination of information about atheism, humanism, human rights and so on must be done by humanist organisations. And the International Humanist and Ethical Union certainly intends to create web sites. Religious groups are already putting much energy into this form of communication. A network of humanist individuals – such as has begun between students in the US (see page 9) could bring strength and breadth to the world wide humanist movement.

Computers cannot think for themselves, but they can be invaluable for humanists who believe in the importance of thinking for oneself.