Bøger i Humanism Today serien

Although some may argue that democracy is more widespread today than at any time in history, others point to the dangerous, irrational forces in both the West and the East that threaten the future of democratic government. The contributors to this volume of essays from The Humanist Institute all share this concern for the serious challenges that have recently arisen to confront the democratic way of life. They point to the strengthening of irrational belief systems within many of the world's religions, conservative trends both here and abroad that seem to favor a form of theocracy over secular democracy, and the weakening of traditional liberal ideals through the controversies surrounding postmodernism and multiculturalism.In addition to these shared concerns, the contributors also share a commitment to the Enlightenment emphasis upon the powers of reason in free individuals. Central to the preservation of democracy is the rule of law, which depends upon an educated citizenry. One of the dangers today is that respect for Enlightenment ideals as well as the quality of education are being undercut. Among the specific topics treated are individual rights and freedoms versus the need for security against terrorism, freedom of the press during a "War on Terrorism," and the importance of education to the future of democracy.The contributors include Vern L. Bullough, Joseph Chuman, Carmela Epright, Kurt Johnson, Paul Kurtz, Sarah Oelberg, Howard Radest, Philip Regal, Andreas Rosenberg, Harvey Sarles, Robert Tapp, and Michael Werner.

Biomedical ethics raises a host of humanistic issues. Among these are human dignity, personal autonomy, quality of life, and access to care for all. Now, more than ever, scientific discoveries and medical technologies prompt us to rethink older perspectives. Humanists have an unprecedented opportunity to shape the moral agenda of the future. In this collection of thoughtful articles from the Humanist Institute, humanist scholars from various fields explore a number of critical issues in bioethics. The moral status of the human embryo, scientific medicine versus Eastern concepts of caregiving, the human genome project, eugenics, contraception, and the economics of healthcare are just some of the topics considered in this enlightening volume. The contributors include: Berit Brogaard, Vern Bullough, Carmela Epright, Faith Lagay, Mason Olds, Howard B. Radest, Philip Regal, Andreas S. Rosenberg, Harvey Sarles, David Schafer, Robert B. Tapp, Stephen P. Weldon, and Michael Werner. For students of ethics, healthcare practitioners and policy makers, and everyone who wishes to participate intelligently in decisions involving cure and care, this work is of great value.

Humanists are sometimes accused of being so focused on the human race that they ignore the environment and other species. This book is designed to address these criticisms. The contributors, all humanists in the naturalistic tradition, show that in fact humanism as a worldview has much to offer environmentalism. Since humanists are committed to working for a global community in which all humans can flourish, they are as concerned about ecological degradation as environmentalists. But in regard to what should be done about environmental problems, humanists do not hesitate to use the best scientific information and technology to reclaim the natural world while ensuring the welfare of all human beings. Humanists stress that science and technology must be used responsibly and that human beings must learn to give up destructive ideological fantasies, whether political or religious. The contributors are Vern L. Bullough, Gwen Whitehead Brewer, Richard Gilbert, Michael J. Kami, Gerald Larue, Timothy J. Madigan, Sarah Oelberg, Don Page, Howard B. Radest, Philip J. Regal, Andreas Rosenberg, Harvey Sarles, David Schafer, John M. Swomley, Robert B. Tapp, Michael Werner, and Carol Wintermute.