A Call for a New Planetary

A Call for a New Planetar y I Humanism The following document was drafted by FREE INQUIRY Editor-in- Preamble Chief Paul Kurtz, drafter of II (1973), A Secular Humanist Declaration (1980), and A Declaration of Interdependence: A New Global Ethics (1988).

umanism is an ethical, scientific, and philo- sophical outlook that has changed the world. Its heritage traces back to the philos o phers and po ets of ancient Greece and Rome, Confu cian Chi na, and the Carvaka movement in classical . Humanist artists, writers, scien tists, and Hthinkers have been shaping the modern era for over half a millennium. Indeed, humanism and modernism have often seemed syn on y mous; for humanist ideas and values express a renewed confidence in the pow er of human beings to solve their own problems and conquer uncharted frontiers. Modern humanism came to fruition during the Renaissance. It led to the development of modern science. During the Enlightenment it germinated new ideals of social justice and inspired the democratic revo lu tions of our time. Humanism has helped frame a new ethical out- look emphasizing the values of freedom and happiness and the virtues of universal human rights. The signers of this Manifesto believe that humanism has much to offer humanity as we face the problems of the twenty-first century and the new millennium beyond. Many of the old ideas and traditions that humankind has inherited are no longer relevant to current realities and future oppor- tunities. We need fresh thinking if we are to cope with the global society that is now emerging, and fresh thinking is the hallmark of humanism. Therefore we present Humanist Manifesto 2000: A Call for a New Planetary Humanism. The following recommendations are offered in modesty but with the conviction that they can contribute to a dia- ©1999 The International Academy of Humanism

free inquiry 4 A Call for a New Planetary Humanism

logue among the differ ent cultural, political, economic, and religious economic systems and test them by whether or not they increased viewpoints in the world. Although we who endorse this document economic well-being for all indi vid u als and groups. share common principles and values, we are prepared to modify Humanist Manifesto II was written when a new moral revolution our views in the light of new knowledge, altered circumstances, and seemed upon us: it defended the right to birth control, abortion, unforeseen problems that may arise. It is not possible to create a divorce, sexual free dom between consenting adults, and euthanasia. permanent Manifesto, but it is useful and wise to devise a working It sought to protect the rights of minor i ties, women, the elderly, document, open to revision. abused children, and the disadvantaged. It advocated tolerance of alternative lifestyles and the peaceful negotiation of differences, ROLOGUE TO THE RESENT P P and it deplored racial, religious, and class antagonisms. It called for Four major Humanist Manifestos and Declarations have already an end to terror and hatred. It was written in the wake of Vatican II, been issued in the twentieth century: Humanist Manifesto I, which had attempted to liberalize Roman Catholicism. Hu man ist Humanist Manifesto II, A Secular Humanist Declaration, and A Manifesto II left room for both naturalistic humanism and lib er al Declaration of In ter de pen dence. religious humanism. The Manifesto was optimistic about the pros- Humanist Manifesto I appeared in 1933 at the height of the pects for humankind. It pointed to the benefits of science and tech- world depression. Endorsed by 34 American humanists (including nology for human good. It predicted that the twenty-first century phi los o pher ), it reflected the concerns of that time, could become the humanist century. rec om mend ing first a form of nontheistic religious humanism as an A Secular Humanist Declaration was issued in 1980 because alternative to the religions of the age, and, second, national econom- hu man ism, and especially Humanist Manifesto II, had come under ic and social planning. heavy attack, particularly from fundamentalist religious and right- Humanist Manifesto II was released in 1973 to deal with the wing political forces in the United States. Many of these critics issues that had emerged on the world scene since then: the rise maintained that sec u lar humanism was a religion. The teaching of of fascism and its defeat in the Second World War, the growth in in the schools, they claimed, violated the princi- influence and power of Marxism-Leninism and Maoism, the Cold ple of the separation of church and state and established a new reli- War, the postwar econom ic recovery of Europe and America, the gion. The Declaration responded that secular humanism expressed decolonialization of large sectors of the world, the creation of the a set of moral values and a nontheistic philosophical and scientific , the sexual rev o lu tion, the growth of the women’s viewpoint that could not be equated with religious faith. The teach- movement, the demand of minorities for equal rights, and the emer- ing of the secular humanist outlook in no way was a violation of the gence of student power on the campuses. separation principle. It defended the democratic idea that the secular That Manifesto stimulated widespread debate. It was signed by state should be neutral, neither for nor against religion. many leaders of thought and action throughout the world: Andrei In 1988, the International Academy of Humanism offered still Sakharov, noted Soviet dissident; Julian Huxley, former President a fourth document, A Declaration of Interdependence, calling for of UNESCO; ; Betty Friedan; Gunnar Myrdal; Jacques a new global ethics and the building of a world community, which Monod; Francis Crick; Margaret Knight; Allan Guttmacher; Ritchie were increas ing ly necessary in view of the global institutions that Calder; and A. Philip Randolph, among others. It defended human were rapidly evolving. rights on a global scale, arguing for the right to travel beyond national frontiers at a time when people behind the Iron Curtain were prohib- WHY PLANETARY HUMANISM? ited from doing so. Many Marxist humanists in Eastern Europe had attacked totalitarian statism and welcomed a defense of democracy While most of the provisions of these earlier Manifestos and Dec- and human rights. la ra tions are still viable, it is apparent that as the world enters a Humanist Manifesto II no longer defended a planned economy, new mil len ni um a new Manifesto is necessary. Since the earlier but left the question open to alternative economic systems. Thus, Manifestos, while much progress has been made, new circumstances it was endorsed by both liberals and economic libertarians, who have emerged to challenge us: Totalitarian communism has collapsed defended a free market, as well as by social democrats and dem- in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the two-power Cold ocratic socialists, who believed that the government should have a War blocs have largely dissipated. New sectors of the globe have substantial role to play in a welfare society. It sought to democratize attempted to become more democratic, though many countries still

5 fi fall 1999 lack effective democratic insti tu tions. Moreover, the of political, military, and social unrest, the twentieth world economy has become even more global ized. cen tu ry has witnessed a great number of beneficent International conglomerates have merged and become achievements. How ev er disappointing to naysayers, transnational and, in a sense, more powerful than many prosperity, peace, better health, and rising standards For the first nations in the world. Russia, China, and other countries of living are a reality—and likely to continue. These time in human have sought to enter the world market. No one country great technological, scientific, and social achieve- is able to master its economic destiny independent of ments have often been overlooked. Although they history we world trade and commerce. These fundamental chang- apply largely to the developed world, their benefits es have occurred largely because of the accelerated are now being felt virtually everywhere. We need to possess the growth of science and technology, and especially the list some of them: means— information revolution, which has led to a worldwide • Scientific medicine has improved health enor- economic and cultural communications network. Argu - mously. It has re duced pain and suffering, and it has provided by ably the changes wrought in the world since Humanist increased longevity. The discovery of antibiotics and Manifesto II are as great or greater than those of the the development of vaccines, modern techniques of science and Industrial Revolution two centuries ago, or the inven- surgery, anesthesia, pharmacology, and biogenetic tion by Gutenberg of moveable type and the printing engineering have all contributed to these advances in technology—to press. The repercussions to our global existence will health care. ameliorate the continue to be enormous. • Farsighted public health measures and improved Yet, as the world becomes a global family, water supplies and sewage disposal have great- human ethnic-religious rivalries have sought to divide ly reduced the incidence of in fec tious disease. territories into contending factions. Fun da men tal ist Therapeutic remedies, widely applied, have dramat- condition, religions have rekindled, contesting the principles of ically reduced child mortality. humanism and secularism and demanding a return • The Green Revolution has transformed food pro- advance to the religiosity of a premodern era. So-called New duction and increased crop yields, reduced hunger, happiness and Age paranormal beliefs likewise have emerged, and raised the levels of nutrition for large portions abet ted by the mass media touting a spiritual/ of the globe. freedom, and paranormal view of reality. The media have been •Modern methods of mass production have globalized. TV, films, radio, and book and maga zine increased pro duc tiv i ty, liberated workers from many enhance human publishers are dominated by media conglomerates, forms of physical drudgery, and made possible the life for all concerned almost solely with advertising and selling benefits and luxuries of consumer goods and services. products to the world market. In addition, postmod- • New modes of transportation have reduced dis- people on the ernism has appeared in many universities, ques tion- tances and transformed societies. The automobile and ing the basic premises of modernity and humanism, airplane have enabled people to traverse continents planet. attacking science and technology, and questioning and overcome geographical isolation. Astronautical humanist ideals and values. Many current visions of research has opened the human species to the exciting the future are pessimistic, even apocalyptic. But we adventure of space exploration. object for we believe that it is possible to create a •Technological discoveries have vastly accel- better world. The real i ties of the global society are erated new modes of communication on a world- such that only a new Planetary Humanism can pro- wide basis. In addition to the benefits of telephone, vide meaningful directions for the future. fax, radio, TV, and satellite transmission, computer technol o gy has radically transformed all aspects of socio-economic life. No office or home in the developed world is untouched by the information II revolution. The Internet and the World Wide Web Prospects for a Better Future have made possible instant communication almost everywhere on the globe. or the first time in human history we possess •Scientific research has expanded our knowledge the means—provided by science and tech- of the universe and the place of the human species nology—to ameliorate the human condition, within it. Human inquiry is now able to advance and advance happiness and freedom, and enhance to have its findings confirmed by science and reason, human life for all people on the planet. Many while the metaphysical and theological speculations people who talk about the new millennium are of the past have made little or no progress. The dis- Ffearful about what will ensue. Many make doomsday coveries of astronomy, physics, rela tiv i ty theory, and forecasts about coming calamities—whether reli- quantum mechanics have increased our under stand ing gious or secular. Pessimists point to the bru tal wars of the universe—from the scale of micro-particles to of the twentieth century and warn that new forms that of galaxies. Biology and genetics have contributed of terrorism and unrest may engulf humanity in the to our knowledge of the bio sphere. Darwin’s nine- coming century. teenth-century theory of natural selection has enabled We think that a more positive and realistic us to un der stand how life evolved. The discoveries of appraisal of the human prospect in the twenty-first DNA and molecular biology continue to reveal the century is in order. We wish to point out that in spite mechanisms of evolution and of life itself. The behav-

free inquiry 6 ioral and social sciences have deepened our knowledge water supplies for irrigation are already overtaxed, of social and political institutions, the economy, and reducing crop yields; many of the world’s rivers are culture. beginning to run dry (including the Nile, the Colorado Many positive social and political developments River, and the Yellow River in China). have also occurred in the twentieth century and these •As human populations have expanded and indus- bode well for the future: trial devel op ment has accelerated, rain forests and • The colonial empires of the nineteenth century timberlands have been devas tat ed. An estimated 2% have all but disap peared. of the earth’s forests are disappearing annually. This • The threat of totalitarianism has abated. toll will continue unless preventive measures are • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is undertaken. now accepted by most nations of the world (in word • Global warming is probably on the increase, in if not in deed). part as a con se quence of deforestation in poor coun- • The ideals of democracy, freedom, and the open tries and atmospheric carbon-diox ide emissions, society have spread widely to Eastern Europe, Latin especially in the affluent nations, which continue to America, Asia, and Africa. waste natural resources. The average person in the • Women in many countries now enjoy personal United States and other Western countries consumes autonomy and legal and social rights, and have taken and pollutes an estimated 40 to 60 times as much as their place in many areas of human enterprise. the average person in the developing world. Waste- • As national economies have become globalized, ful consumption is often encouraged by growth-ori- economic prosper i ty has been carried from Europe ented companies, with too little concern for the and North America to other parts of the world. Free ecological fallout. markets and entrepreneurial methods have opened • The populations of other species have steadily underdeveloped regions to capital investment and declined, and many forms of plant and animal life are development. becoming extinct—perhaps the greatest extinction • The problem of population growth has been since the disappearance of the dinosaurs 65 million resolved in the affluent countries of Europe and North years ago. America. In many areas the population grows not •Many governments of the world are facing because of the birth rate but because of the decline severe economic problems as cities overflow with of the death rate and the increase of longevity—a immigrants from the countryside; vast numbers of positive de vel op ment. them are unemployed and barely able to subsist. If our prob- •Increased education, literacy, and cultural • Unemployment remains a serious problem in lems are to be enrichment are now available to more and more chil- many of the afflu ent countries of Europe as well, dren in the world—though there is still much more which are failing to absorb young work ers, retool solved, it that needs to be done. technology, retrain employees, or find them jobs. • Wide-ranging agreements for tackling many of will be only n spite of these breakthroughs, we need squarely to the in ter na tion al social and environmental problems confront the se vere economic, social, and political facing humanity were achieved in an important series by marshaling Iproblems the world still faces. The prophets of of international conferences, but governments have reason, science, doom are pessimistic; the Jeremiahs predict misfor - failed to live up to the commitments made; few of tune and calamity. We respond that, if our problems the richer countries give any priority to helping the and human are to be solved, it will be only by marshaling reason, poor majority, or even to helping the alienated and science, and human endeavor. dispossessed in their own societies. endeavor. • Large sectors of the world population still do • Democracy remains weak or nonexistent in not enjoy the fruits of affluence; they continue to many countries. Too often the free press is muzzled languish in poverty, hunger, and disease, particularly and elections are thwarted. in the developing world, in Asia, Africa, and Central • Failure to accord equal rights to women is still and South America. Millions of children and adults widespread in most of the countries of the world. live at a subsistence level with poor nutrition, sanita- • Many of the former colonial areas have fallen tion, and health. This applies to many people in the into economic decline. so-called affluent societies as well. • Diseases once thought to be conquered, such as • Population continues to grow in many parts of tuberculosis and malaria, are on the increase, while the world at the annual rate of 3%. In 1900 the world HIV/AIDS is running un checked in large parts of the had an estimated 1.7 billion people. By the year 2000 developing world. it will exceed 6 billion. If present demo graph ic trends • Though the world is no longer divided into two continue, another 3 billion people will be added in the superpowers, humankind still has the power to destroy next half century. itself. Fanatical terrorists, rogue states, or even the • If population continues to grow as projected, it major powers can inadvertently trigger apocalyptic will lead to a drastic decrease in the available tillable events by unleashing weapons of mass destruction. grain lands, which may by 2050 shrink to one-quarter • The belief in some quarters that the free market of an acre per person in many countries (notably in will cure all social problems remains a faith. How to India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Iran). Fresh- balance the demands of the free market with the need

7 fi fall 1999 for equitable social programs to assist the dis ad van- best, they offer no program for resolving the world’s taged and impoverished remains an unresolved issue problems; at worst, they deny that solutions are either in many countries of the world. possible or achievable. The effects of this philosoph - Scientific i cal-literary movement are counterproductive, even e grant that these are seri ous prob lems, and nihilistic. We think it profoundly mistaken because naturalism we need to take ade quate measures to resolve science does offer reasonably ob jec tive standards for Wthem. We believe that only with the use of judging its truth claims. Indeed, science has become enables human critical intelligence and cooperative efforts can a universal language, speaking to all men and women they be overcome. Humankind has faced challenges no matter what their cultural backgrounds. beings to in the past and has managed to persevere, even to construct a triumph. The problems looming on the hori zon are e believe that it is necessary to present an perhaps no greater than those our forebears faced. alternative vision of tomorrow. National gov- coherent There are still other dangerous tendencies in the Wernments and corporate leaders must aban- world that are in suf fi cient ly recognized. We are don short-term policies and support forward-looking worldview especially concerned about antiscientific, antimodern plan ning. All too often these leaders ignore the best disentangled trends, including the emergence of shrill fundamen- advice of scientists and humanists and base their poli- talist voices and the persistence of bigotry and intol- cies on the upcoming election or on the next quar ter ly from erance, whether religious, political, or tribal in origin. earnings report. Na tion al governments must not only These are the same forces in many parts of the world be concerned with immediate econom ic or political metaphysics or that oppose efforts to resolve social problems or to considerations, but pay attention to the needs of the ameliorate the human condition: entire planet and a sustainable future for human kind. theology and • The persistence of traditional spiritual attitudes Planetary Humanism seeks to recommend long- based on the often encour ag es unrealistic, escapist, otherworldly range attainable goals. This is a principal distinction approaches to social problems, inculcates a disrespect between humanism and premodern, religiously based sciences. for science, and all too often defends archaic social moralities. Humanism formulates courageous new institutions. images of the future and generates confidence in the •Many religious and political groups oppose ability of the human species to solve its problems by contraception or the funding of programs designed to rational means and a positive outlook. reduce fertility and to stabilize population growth. As The eighteenth-century Enlightenment, which has a result, economic development and the reduc tion of inspired this Manifesto, was no doubt limited by poverty are hampered. the times in which it appeared. Its view of Reason • Many of these forces also oppose the liberation as an absolute rather than as a tentative and falli- of women and wish to keep them subservient to men. ble instrument of human purpose was overdrawn. •The world increasingly has witnessed bit- Nevertheless, its convic tion that science, reason, ter ethnic conflicts and intensified tribal rivalries. democracy, education, and humanist values could The religious dimensions to these conflicts remain enhance human progress still has great appeal to us largely unreported: in Yugoslavia among Serbian today. The Plane tary Humanism that this Manifesto Orthodox Christians, Croatian Roman Catholics, presents is post-postmodernist in its outlook. It draws and (in Bosnia and Kosovo); in Israel and on the best values of modernity, yet it seeks to tran- Palestine between Orthodox Jews and Muslims; in scend the negativity of postmodernism and it looks Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics; forward to the information age now dawning and all in between Tamil and Sinhalese that this portends for the future of humankind. Buddhists; in the Punjab and Kashmir among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs; in East Timor between Christians and Muslims. III • The world is rightly concerned by the growth of terrorism and genocide, again too frequently inflamed Scientific Naturalism by ethnic nationalists or reli gious chauvinists. • Multiculturalism advocates the toleration of he unique message of humanism on the diverse ethnic and cultural traditions and a recognition current world scene is its com mit ment of their right to exist. But we have also seen a fractur- to scientific naturalism. Most worldviews ing of society and the demand for separation and iso- accepted today are spiritual, mystical, or la tion, ironically at a time when Nazi racist doctrines theological in character. They have their and apartheid in South Africa have been thoroughly origins in the ancient pre-urban, nomadic, repudiated. Intolerance has gener at ed ethnic cleansing Tand agricultural soci et ies of the past, not in the modern and other virulent manifestations of racial hatred. industrial or postindustrial global infor ma tion culture • There has emerged in many Western countries that is emerging. Scientific naturalism enables human a so-called postmodernist ideology that denies the be ings to construct a coherent worldview disentangled objectivity of science, deplores the use of modern from metaphys ics or theol o gy and based on the sciences. technology, and attacks human rights and democ ra cy. • First, scientific naturalism is committed to a set Some forms of postmodernism counsel defeatism: at of methodological prescriptions. For methodological

free inquiry 8 naturalism, all hypotheses and theo ries must be tested embrace its own adulthood—to leave behind the mag- experimentally by reference to natural causes and ical thinking and mythmaking that are substitutes for events. It is inadmissible to introduce occult causes tested knowl edge of nature. or transcendental explanations. The methods of sci- ence are not infallible, they do not present us with unchanging, absolute truths; yet on balance, they are IV the most reliable methods we have for expanding knowledge and solving human problems. They have The Benefits of Technology had a powerful effect in transforming world civiliza- umanists have consistently defended the tion. Wide sectors of the public today accept the util- beneficent value of sci en tif ic technolo- ity of the sciences; they recognize that the sciences gy for human welfare. Philosophers from have had positive con se quenc es. Francis Bacon to John Dewey have empha- Unfortunately, the application of the methods sized the increased power over nature that of science is often confined to narrow specialties, scientific knowledge affords and how it and the broader implications of science to our view can contribute immea sur ably to human advancement of reality are ignored. Humanists maintain that we H and happiness. need to extend the methods of science to other fields With the introduction of new technologies, of human endeavor and that there should be no unforeseen negative byproducts have often emerged. restrictions on scientific research, unless the research From the Luddites of the nineteenth century to the infringes on the rights of persons. Efforts to block postmodernists of the twentieth century, critics have free inquiry for moral, political, ideological, or reli- de plored the applications of technology. Humanists gious reasons have invariably failed in the past. The have long recognized that some technological inno- possible beneficent results from continuous scientific vations may engender problems. Un for tu nate ly, tech- discoveries cannot be underestimated. nological applications, more often than not, are •Second, the opportunities that the sciences afford determined by economic considerations—by whether for expanding our knowledge of nature and human products are profitable—or by their military and behavior are enormous. Scientific naturalism presents political uses. There are vast dangers inherent in the a cosmic outlook based upon tested hypotheses and uncontrolled use of technology. Weapons of mass theories. It does not draw primarily upon religion, destruction (ther mo nu clear, biological, and chemical) poetry, literature, or the arts for its account of reali- still have not been effectively regu lat ed by the world We think it time ty—though these are important expres sions of human community. Similarly, many breakthroughs in genet - for humanity to interests. Scientific naturalists hold a form of nonre- ics, biology, and medical research (such as biogenetic ductive materialism; natural processes and events are engineering, cloning, organ transplant, and so forth) embrace its own best accounted for by refer ence to material causes. pose possible dangers, yet they offer enormous poten- This form of naturalism leaves room for a pluralistic tialities for human health and welfare. adult hood— universe. Though nature is basically physical-chemi- • First, humanists strenuously object to efforts to to leave behind cal at root, processes and objects manifest themselves limit technological research or to censor or restrict on many levels of obser va tion: subatomic particles, inquiry a priori. It is difficult to predict beforehand the magical atoms, and molecules; genes and cells; organ isms, where scientific research will lead or to forecast its flowers, plants, and animals; psychological perception possible benefits. We ought to be cautious about cen- thinking and and cogni tion; social and cultural institutions; planets, soring such research. stars, and galaxies. This allows for contextual expla- •Second, we hold that the best way to deal with mythmaking nations, drawing from the natural, bio log i cal, social issues concerning technological applications is by that are and behavioral fields of inquiry. This does not deny informed debate, not by appealing to abso lut ist dogma the need to appreciate the various moral, aesthetic, and or emotional sloganeering. Each technological inno- substitutes other cultural expressions of human experience. vation needs to be evaluated in terms of potential risk •Third, naturalists maintain that there is insuffi- and potential benefit to society and the environment. It for tested cient scientific evi dence for spiritual interpretations of presupposes some level of scientific liter a cy. reality and the postulation of occult causes. Classical • Third, we cannot abandon technological solu- knowl edge transcendentalist doctrines no doubt expressed the pas- tions. The economic and social structure of the con- of nature. sion ate existential yearnings of human beings wishing temporary world is becoming in creas ing ly dependent to overcome death. The scientific theory of evolution, upon technological innovation. If we are to solve however, provides a more parsi mo ni ous account of our problems it will be not by retreating to an idyllic human origins and is based upon evidence drawn from state of nature, but by developing new technologies a wide range of sciences. We decry the efforts of a few that fulfill human needs and purposes, and doing so scientists, often heralded by the mass media, to impose wisely and humanely. transcendental in ter pre ta tions upon natural phenom- • Fourth, technological innovations that reduce ena. Neither the standard modern cosmology nor the overall human impact on the environment must be evolutionary process provides sufficient evi dence for encouraged. intelligent design, which is a leap of faith beyond the •Fifth, the spread of intermediate technologies em pir i cal evidence. We think it time for humanity to that are affordable to the poor should be encour-

9 fi fall 1999 aged, enabling them to benefit from the techno log- The challenge for societies thus is to emphasize our i cal revolution. similarities, not our differences. What are the key principles of the ethics of We believe that humanism? V • First, the dignity and autonomy of the individual the state should is the central value. Humanist ethics is committed to Ethics and Reason maximizing freedom of choice: lib er ty of thought and be secular, he realization of the highest ethical values conscience, the free mind and free inquiry, and the is essential to the hu man ist outlook. We right of individuals to pursue their own lifestyles as neither for nor believe that the growth of scientific knowl- they see fit so long as they do not harm others. This against religion. edge will enable humans to make wiser is especially relevant in democratic societies where choices. In this way there is no impene- there may be a multiplicity of alternative value sys- We thus reject trable wall between fact and value, is and tems. Humanists thus respect diversity. ought. Using reason and cognition will better enable •Second, the humanist defense of individual theocracies that T self-determination does not mean that humanists us to appraise our values in the light of evidence and condone just any kind of human conduct. Nor does seek to impose by their consequences. Humanists have been unfairly accused of being humanists’ toleration of diverse lifestyles necessarily one moral or unable to provide viable foundations for ethical imply ap prov al. Humanists insist that concomitant responsibilities. Indeed, humanists are often blamed with the commitment to a free so ci ety is the constant religious code for the alleged moral breakdown of society. This need to raise the qualitative level of taste and appre ci- argument is profoundly mistaken. Throughout the a tion. Humanists believe that freedom must be exer- on everyone. centuries philosophers have provid ed solid secular cised responsibly. They recognize that all individuals foundations for humanistic moral action. Moreover, live within communities and that some actions are countless millions of humanists have led exemplary destructive and wrong. lives, been respon si ble citizens, raised their children •Third, humanist ethical philosophers have with loving care, and contributed significantly to the defended an ethic of excellence (from Aristotle and moral enhancement of society. Kant to John Stuart Mill, John Dewey, and M. N. Roy). • Theological moral doctrines often reflect inher- Here some temperance, moderation, self-restraint, ited, prescientific conceptions of nature and human and self-control are present. Among the standards of nature. Contradictory moral command ments can be excellence are the capac i ty for autonomous choice, drawn from this legacy, and different religions fre- creativity, aesthetic appreciation, mature motivation, quent ly hold widely differing views on moral ques- rationality, and an obligation to fulfill one’s highest tions. Theists and transcendentalists have been both talents. Humanism aims to bring out the best in people for and against slavery, the caste system, war, capital so that all people can have the best in life. punishment, women’s rights, and monogamy. Sec tar- •Fourth, humanists recognize our responsibilities i an religionists have often slaughtered each other’s and duties to oth ers. This means that we ought not to adherents with impu ni ty. Many of the terrible wars in treat other human beings as mere objects for our own the past and the present are inspired by intransigent gratification; we must consider them as persons entitled religious dogmas. We do not deny that religionists to equality of consideration. Humanists hold that “each have done much good; what we deny is that religious in di vid u al should be treated humanely.” Similarly, they piety is the sole guaran tee of moral virtue. accept the Golden Rule that “we should not treat others • Humanists everywhere have defended the sepa- as we would not like to be treated.” They accept the bib- ration of religion and state. We believe that the state lical injunction that we should “accept the aliens within should be secular, neither for nor against religion. We our midst,” respecting their differences with us. Given thus reject theocracies that seek to impose one moral the multiplicity of creeds, we are all strangers—yet can or religious code on everyone. We believe that the be friends—in the broader commu ni ty. state should allow a wide plurality of moral values • Fifth, humanists believe that the virtues of empa- to coexist. thy and caring are essential for ethical conduct. This • The basic principles of moral conduct are com- implies that we should develop an altru is tic concern mon to virtually all civilizations—whether religious for the needs and interests of others. The foundations or not. Moral tendencies are deeply rooted in human of moral conduct are the “common moral decencies”; nature and have evolved throughout human history. that is, the general moral virtues that are widely shared Humanist ethics thus does not require agreement by humans of diverse cultur al and religious back- about theological or religious premises—we may grounds: We ought to tell the truth, keep promis es, never reach that—but it relates ethical choices ulti- be honest, sincere, beneficent, reliable, and depend- mately to shared human interests, wants, needs, and able, show fidel i ty, appreciation, and gratitude; be values. We judge them by their consequences for fair-minded, just, and tolerant; we ought to negotiate human happiness and social justice. People of differ- our differences reasonably and try to be cooperative; ent socio-cultural backgrounds do in fact apply sim- we ought not to steal or to injure, maim, or harm ilar general moral principles, though specific moral other persons. Although humanists have called for judgments may differ because of differing conditions. liberation from repressive puritanical codes, they have

free inquiry 10 likewise defended moral responsibility. he overriding need of the world commu- • Sixth, high on the humanist agenda is the need nity today is to develop a new Planetary to provide moral education for children and young Humanism—one that seeks to preserve people, to develop character and an appre ci a tion for human rights and enhance human free- the common moral decencies, and to encourage moral dom and dignity, but also empha siz es growth and the capacity for moral reasoning. our com mit ment to humanity as a whole. •Seventh, humanists recommend that we use T•First, the underlying ethical principle of reason in framing our ethical judgments. They point Planetary Humanism is the need to respect the out that cognition is essential in formu lat ing ethical dignity and worth of all persons in the world com- choices. In particular, we need to engage in a process mu ni ty. No doubt each person already recognizes of de lib er a tion if we are to resolve moral dilemmas. multiple responsibilities relative to his or her social Human values and prin ci ples can best be justified context: persons have responsibilities to fami ly, in the light of reflective inquiry. Where differ enc es friends, the community, city, state, or nation in exist we need to negotiate them wherever we can by which they reside. We need, however, to add to rational dialogue. these responsibilities a new commitment that has • Eighth, humanists maintain that we should be emerged—our responsibility to persons beyond our prepared to modify ethical principles and values in national boundaries. Now, more than ever, we are the light of current realities and future ex pec ta tions. linked morally and physically to each person on the We need to draw upon the best moral wisdom of the globe, and the bell tolls for all when it tolls for one. past, but also to develop new solutions for moral •Second, we ought to act so as to mitigate dilemmas, whether old or new. human suffering and to increase the sum of human For example, the debate over voluntary euthana- happiness wherever it is possible to do so, and this sia has intensified particularly in affluent societies, responsibility extends to the whole world. This prin- because medical technology now enables us to keep ciple is rec og nized by both religious believers and terminally ill patients alive who might earlier have nonbelievers. It is essential to the entire framework died. Hu man ists have argued for death with dignity of human morality. No community can long endure and the right of competent adults to refuse medical if it condones wholesale violations of the common treatment, reducing unnecessary suffering and even moral decencies among its own members. The key hastening death. They have also recognized the question today concerns the range of the principle. importance of the hospice movement in easing the We submit that this moral duty should be gener- The overriding dying process. alized: we should be concerned not only with the Likewise, we should be prepared to select ratio- well-being of those within our community or nation- need of the nally the new repro duc tive powers made possible state but also with the entire world community. world by scientific research—such as in vitro fertilization, •Third, we should avoid an overemphasis on surrogate motherhood, genetic engineering, organ multicultural paro chi al ism, which can be divisive communi- trans plan ta tion, and cloning. We cannot look back to and destructive. We should be tolerant of cultural the moral absolutes of the past for guidance here. We diversity except where those cultures are themselves ty today is need to respect autonomy of choice. intolerant or repressive. It is time to rise above nar- to develop a • Ninth, humanists argue that we should respect row tribalism to find common ground. Ethnicities an ethic of prin ci ples. This means that the end does are the result of past social and geographical isola - new Planetary not justify the means; on the contrary, our ends are tions that are no longer relevant in an open global shaped by our means, and there are limits to what society where inter ac tion and intermarriage among Humanism— we are permitted to do. This is especially important different ethnicities are not only possi ble, but are today in light of the tyrannical dictatorships of the to be encouraged. Although loyalty to one’s own one that seeks twentieth century, in which political ideol o gies held country, tribe, or ethnic group can take individu- to preserve with near-religious zeal compromised moral means als beyond selfish interests, ex ces sive chauvinism to achieve visionary ends. We are keenly aware of among ethnic groups and nation-states frequently human rights the tragic suffering inflicted on millions by those becomes destructive. Moral caring and loyalty thus willing to condone great evil in pursuit of a supposed should not end at ethnic enclaves or national fron- and enhance greater good. tiers. A rational morality enjoins us to build and sup- port institutions of cooperation among individuals of human freedom different ethnicities. It would integrate, not separate and dignity, but us from one an oth er. VI •Fourth, respect and concern for persons should also em pha siz es A Universal Commitment apply to all human beings equally. This in turn means that all human beings should be treated our com mit ment to Humanity as a Whole humanely and that we should defend human rights to humanity as everywhere. Accord ing ly, each of us has a duty to help mitigate the suffering of people anywhere in the a whole. world and to contribute to the common good. This principle expresses our highest sense of compassion

11 fi fall 1999 and benevolence. It implies that people living in the mined. We should see to it that our planetary soci- affluent nations have an obligation to mitigate suf- ety does not unleash weapons of mass de struc tion. fering and enhance the well-being, where they can, For the first time in history humankind possesses of peo ple in the impoverished regions of the world. the means to destroy itself. The present abatement There is a Likewise, it means that those in the less-developed of the Cold War is no guarantee that the ultimate growing need regions have an obligation to replace resentment sword of Damocles will not be dropped by fanatical against the affluent with reciprocal goodwill. The disciples of vengeance or by those whose brink- for an explicit best that the affluent can do for the poor is to help manship would allow the world to be destroyed in them to help themselves. If the poorer members of order to save it. Planetary Bill the human family are to be helped, the affluent may Thus, a viable new Planetary Humanism focusing of Rights and have to limit their own wasteful consumption and on a safe, secure, and better world should be our excessive self-indulgence. overriding obligation, and we should do what we can Responsibilities •Fifth, these principles should apply not only to to engender ethical commitment. This commitment the world commu ni ty of the present time, but also to should apply to all people on the planet, whether reli- that applies to the future. We have a responsibility to posterity— gious or naturalistic, theist or humanist, rich or poor, both in the immediate future and on a longer time of whatever race, ethnicity, or nationality. all members of scale. Rational ethical persons thus recognize their We need to convince our fellow human beings the human spe- extended obligation to our children’s children’s off- about the imperative to work together in creating a spring and to the community of all human beings, new planetary consensus in which preserv ing and cies. present and future. improving the lot of humanity as a whole is our •Sixth, each generation has an obligation, as supreme obligation. far as possible, to leave the planetary environment that it inherits a better place. We should avoid excessive pollution, and we should use what we VII need rationally and sparingly to avoid wasting the earth’s nonrenewable resources. At a time of rapid A Planetary population growth and accelerating consumption of resources, this may seem an impossible ideal. But Bill of Rights and we must try, for our actions today will determine Responsibilities the fate of generations yet to come. We can look back and retrospectively evaluate the actions of our o fulfill our commitment to Planetary forebears, and we can praise or blame them for their Humanism, we propose A Plan e tary acts of omission or commission. We can criticize, Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, the for example, those who depleted oil and natu- embodiment of our plane tary commit- ral-gas reserves with abandon, or exhausted water ment to the well-being of humanity as supplies. Conversely, we can thank the architects a whole. It incor po rates the Universal and engineers of the past for the natural preserves, TDeclaration of Human Rights, but goes beyond fine water-treatment plants, underground disposal it by offering some new provisions. Many inde- systems, highways, and bridges that they built and pendent coun tries have sought to implement these which we use today. provisions within their own na tion al bor ders. But We can empathize with the future world and there is a growing need for an explicit Planetary imaginatively project what those who will live then Bill of Rights and Responsibilities that applies to all will be like, and we can infer obligations today for members of the human species. Its implementation those tomorrow. Our obligation to the future stems will not be easy. It is contingent, of course, on there in part from our gratitude, or perhaps condemnation, being sufficient resources. Although the free market of generations previous to ours and the sacrifices is a dy nam ic engine of economic growth and devel- that they made from which we benefit. Future opment, it is not infal li ble, and it may need to be generations need spokespersons today, serving as supplemented by public policies concerned with the their proxies and defend ing their future rights. To broader social good. The means adopted to achieve so argue is not to impose an impossible obligation, the Bill’s prin ci ples will most likely draw primarily because a good portion of the human race already is upon the private sector, but the public sector has a morally concerned about future posterity, including role to play as well. There will no doubt be tre men- a concern for the en vi ron ment. One may even argue dous political opposition to these proposals, but we that the heroic idealism devoted to a beloved cause should at least set long-range goals, even though beyond themselves and for the greater good of they may be presently difficult to achieve in certain humanity has always inspired human beings. parts of the world. •Seventh, we should take care to do nothing that • First, we should strive to end poverty and mal- would endanger the very survival of future genera- nutrition and to pro vide adequate health care and tions. We must see to it that our plane tary society shelter for people everywhere on the planet. This does not so degrade the atmosphere, waters, and soil means that nobody should be denied adequate food that life in the future would be drastically under- and clean water and we should try our best to erad-

free inquiry 12 icate infectious diseases, ensure proper sanitation, tinuing education for adults. There are minimum and guarantee a minimum standard of housing for standards that every person should attain: the basic everyone. This is quite a task; yet on moral grounds skills of reading, writing, math e mat ics. Higher levels it is imperative that we begin to undertake this work. of attainment relate to talent and capacity. Ad mis sion • Second, we should strive to provide economic to schools of higher education should be based on security and ade quate income for everyone. This merit; where possible, scholarships should be granted means giving people a fair chance for employ ment, so that no qualified student must forsake educational unemployment insurance, and social security for opportunity because of financial straits. retirement. There should be special programs to • All children should be taught some basic market- educate the handicapped in skills for which they are able skills, to ensure them the possibility of gainful capable and to help them find employment. employment. This should include some form of com- The central premise here is self-help: that individ- puter literacy, cultural edification, and the ability to uals need to exert their own efforts to earn sufficient function in the world of commerce. income. All that society can do is provide opportuni- The curriculum should promote an understanding ties—by private or public means. of scientific methods of inquiry and critical thinking. • Third, every person should be protected from No limits should be placed on free inquiry. Education unwarranted and unnecessary injury, danger, and should include an appreciation of the natural, biolog- death. Every member of the human species should be ical, and social sciences. The theory of evolution and secure from physical violence, theft of personal prop- the stan dards of ecology should also be studied. erty, and fear due to intimidation (whether by private Students should learn the principles of good persons or social or polit i cal institutions). They health, adequate nu tri tion, sanitation, and exercise. should be protected from sexual abuse, harass ment, Included in these should be some under stand ing of and rape. Sexual conduct should be based on the scientific medicine and how the human body func- principle of consent. Sex with or marriage to children tions. The opportunity for appropriate sexual educa- should not be permitted under any circumstances. tion should be made available from an early age. This Capital punishment is an inadmissible form of should include responsible sexual behavior, family retribution. It should be replaced by other deterrents, planning, and con tra cep tive techniques. such as life imprisonment. Most civ i lized nations Students should learn to appreciate diverse cul- have already prohibited the death penalty. tural traditions. This should include the comparative • Fourth, individuals should have the right to live study of religions, languages, and cultures, and an We need to in a family unit or household of their choice, con- appreciation for artistic expression. Students should develop a new sonant with their income, and should have the right study history beginning with the history of the par- to bear or not to bear children. Every individual ticular country or culture in which they live, but human identi- should have the right to freely choose life partners, should also study other cultures, including the history if any, and the number and spacing of their children. of world civilizations. Every effort should be made ty—membership Persons should have the right to raise their biological to develop “planetary literacy,” i.e., environmental or adopted children, or not to have families. awareness. Learning should not be confined to nar- in the planetary Those who elect to raise children have certain row specialties, but some effort at interdisciplinary community. requirements incum bent upon them: Parents should understanding should be encouraged. provide a secure and loving envi ron ment for their • Sixth, individuals should not be discriminated This identity children. Children should not be abused by parents. against because of race, ethnic origin, nationality, Young children and adolescents should not be com- culture, caste, class, creed, gender, or sexual orien- must have pelled into adult labor or excessive drudgery. Parents tation. We need to develop a new human identity— should not neglect their children or deny them proper membership in the planetary community. This identi- priority over all nutrition, sanitation, shelter, medical care, and safety. ty must have priority over all others and can serve as others and can Parents should not deny their children access to the basis for eradicating discrimination. education, cultural enrichment, and intellectual stim- • Racial, national, and ethnic hatred are immoral. serve as the ulation. Although parental moral guid ance is vital, All individuals are members of the same species and parents should not simply impose their own religious as such should be entitled to enjoy all the privileges basis for outlook or moral values on their children or indoctri- and opportunities available. eradicating nate them. Children, ado les cents, and young adults •Class antagonism can be a source of discrimi- should have exposure to different viewpoints and nation. Traditional barriers, such as the caste system, discrimination. enjoy encouragement to think for themselves. The have held back millions from advance ment. Some views of even young children should be respected. have sought to close the gap between rich and poor • Fifth, the opportunity for education and cultural by impoverishing the former instead of improving enrichment should be universal. Every person should conditions for the latter. Others have ignored the have the opportunity to expand his or her knowledge. plight of the poor or sought to keep them in a state of As a minimum, schooling should be made available dependency. for every child from the earliest years through ado- • The right to believe and practice one’s religion lescence. But the op por tu ni ty for education should or belief without discrim i na tion must be respected. be made available to all age groups, includ ing con- The equivalent freedom, not to practice reli gion,

13 fi fall 1999 should be afforded to religious dissenters, agnostics, self-realization, and human happiness. Society should and atheists, whose views deserve no lesser respect. encourage and support the arts and their wide cultural • Gender discrimination should not be permitted. dissemination to all sectors of the community. Women have a right to be treated equally with men. •Tenth, individuals should not be unduly The core Discrimination in job oppor tu ni ty, education, or cul- restrained, restricted, or prohibited from exercis- principle is tural activities is insupportable. Society should not ing a wide range of personal choices. This includes deny homosexuals, bisexuals, or transgendered and freedom of thought and conscience—the unquali- that each per- transsexuals equal rights. fied right to believe, or not to believe, freedom of •Seventh, the principles of equality should be speech and freedom to pursue one’s own lifestyle, son should be respected by civilized communities, and in four so long as one does not prevent others from exer- afforded the major senses: cising their rights. • Included in the above is the right to privacy: opportunity to • Equality before the law: Every person should be afforded due process and equal pro- • The confidentiality of individuals should realize his or tection of the laws. The same laws must apply be respected. to government officials as well as to ordinary •Every individual should be free from her own citizens. No one should be above the law. intrusive political or social coercion. personal Laws should be blind to race, color, ethnicity, •Women should have the right to control creed, sex, and wealth. their own bod ies. This includes reproductive fulfillment, • Equality of consideration: Every person freedom, voluntary contra cep tion, and abortion. has equal dignity and value and shall not • Couples should have proper information concomitant be denied benefits and rights accord ed all for family planning and the ability to avail others. This does not deny society the right themselves of artificial insem i na tion and bio- with social to restrain, punish, or incarcerate individuals genetic counseling. resources, but who break the law, use violence, or commit • Adults should be allowed to marry whom- crimes against others. ever they wish, even if of different racial, this actual • Satisfaction of basic needs: Individuals ethnic, religious, class, caste, or national back- may lack re sourc es and through no fault of ground. Miscegenation should not be pro hib- realization their own be unable to satisfy their minimal it ed. Same-sex couples should have the same depends on the needs for food, shelter, safety, health care, rights as heterosexual couples. cultural enrichment and education. In such • Informed consent should be the guiding individual and cases, if society has the means, then it has principle of health care. Mature individuals an obligation to help satisfy as many of these should have the right to select or reject medical not on society. basic needs as possible. This welfare concern treatment. is related to the ability to work. Society should • Individuals should have the right to join not encourage a culture of dependency. voluntary or ga ni za tions in order to share com- • Equality of opportunity: In free societies mon interests and ac tiv i ties. The right of free there should be a level playing field. In an open association, so long as it is peaceful and non- and free society, adults and children should violent, must be respected. be afforded the opportunities to fulfill their interests and aspirations, and to express their unique tal ents. VIII • Eighth, it is the right of every person to be able A New Global Agenda to live a good life, pursue happiness, achieve creative satisfaction and leisure in his or her own terms, so any of the high ideals that emerged fol- long as he or she does not harm others. The core lowing the Second World War, and that principle is that each person should be afforded the found expression in such instruments opportunity to realize his or her own personal ful- as the Uni ver sal Dec la ra tion of Human fillment, concomitant with social resources, but this Rights, have waned throughout the actual realization depends on the individual and not world. If we are to influence the future on society. Happi ness, however, is dependent upon Mof humankind, we will need to work increasingly with a person’s own income, resources, and attitudes, and and through the new centers of power and influence individuals should not expect society to provide the to improve equity and stability, alleviate poverty, means of satisfaction for a wide range of idiosyncrat- reduce conflict, and safeguard the environment. In ic tastes and pursuits. light of these changing circum stanc es a number of •Ninth, individuals should have the opportunity pri or i ty objectives have become apparent: to appreciate and participate in the arts—including •First, security: The problem of regional con- literature, poetry, drama, sculpture, dance, music, and flicts and wars has not been resolved, nor has the song. Aesthetic imagination and creative activities can lurking danger posed by weapons of mass destruc- contribute immeasurably to the enrichment of life, tion. In the past 50 years intercommunal violence

free inquiry 14 and civil war have far exceeded conflicts among We urge all nations to support the 1994 “Cairo nations both in terms of number and human cost. Programme of Action” to provide universal reproduc- Such conflicts invariably arise when one ethnic tive health and reproductive rights, to help improve com mu ni ty within a state feels oppressed by the the quality of life of the poorest, and to stabilize world government or by another community, and feels pop u la tion growth. The Human Development Index unable to express its grievances by legal means. published annually by the United Nations Development The United Nations Charter specifically prohibits Programme should be promoted as a measure of social interference in the internal affairs of a member performance for every developing country. state; the international community therefore lacks There is an increasing role for nongovernmental any legal basis for attempts to resolve tribal, ethnic, organizations (NGOs) in developing countries to or inter-communal conflict within national bound- act as direct recipients of devel op ment assistance aries against the wishes of the governing group in in order to short-cut the corruption and bureaucratic the state concerned. Furthermore, any attempt by delays endemic in many such countries. Western the international community to resolve such con- nongovernmental organizations have a significant flicts by the use of force is likely to be met in the role to play as partners and as channels for such UN Security Council by the veto of a perma nent development assistance. member friendly to the government concerned. •Third, social justice: The Planetary Bill of Since the end of the Cold War, the United States, Rights and Re spon si bil i ties is central to questions of supported by NATO and the other Western powers, social justice. Attempts to qualify the impact of social has often sought to impose peace by force, bypass- justice or to restrict its geographical or cultural scope ing the United Nations and seriously undermining must be resisted. The applicability of the Declaration its authority. of Human Rights to the private sphere of home, •Second, human development: We call for dar- family, and community must be re-empha sized. We ing and innovative proposals to maximize human especially urge the early ratification by all countries progress on the global scale. The disparity between of all the international conventions on the rights of the affluent and the underdeveloped sectors of the women, children, minor i ties, and indigenous peoples. planet is an urgent problem today as in the past. •Fourth, the growth of global conglomerates: The developed world can help to overcome it in The past 20 years have witnessed an increasing con- part by providing capital, technical aid, and educa- centration of power and wealth in the hands of glob- tional assistance. al corporations. No doubt they have contributed to Imaginative We need a new emphasis on social, not simply world trade and economic development. Yet inter- reforms are economic, devel op ment, recognizing that while eco- national law has been slow to respond to the rapidly nomic development does not always lead to social evolving power structures in the world econo my. needed to development direct invest ment in social development Multinational corporations are now largely able can reduce poverty and bring more people into the to disregard the wishes of individual governments ensure that the money economy. There is a need to support measures in formulating policy, moving financial resourc - that will directly benefit the health and well being es across boundaries and exporting manufacturing international of the poorest, and especially of women and girls. to the cheapest market. This freedom is seen as wealthy, both This must include some efforts to stabi lize and then beneficial to the free market and is encouraged by decrease population-growth rates. global financial markets. But such corporations are corporations and Development assistance has frequently been seen also largely able to avoid taxes by exporting profits. by donor coun tries as an instrument of foreign impe- Financial institutions are able to evade financial individuals, pay rialism and trade policy. With the end of the Cold control by basing their structures in offshore tax War the perceived need to compete for the support havens, while international fund transfers approach- their fair share of the developing world has diminished, and with it ing a trillion dollars per day go untaxed. Wealthy without damag- the scale of devel op ment assistance. This trend must individuals are similarly able to avoid paying their be reversed. fair share of taxes. ing the engine We urge all industrialized nations to accept as a first Any proposal to address these issues but that step the guidelines set out by the United Nations for would restrict the oper a tion of the free market would of the world overseas development assistance, namely to contrib ute be strenuously resisted and would cer tain ly fail. economy. (or be taxed) 0.7% of their GDP each year to devel - Imaginative reforms are therefore needed to ensure op ment assistance, of which 20% should be for social that the international wealthy, both corporations and de vel op ment, and with 20% of the social development individuals, pay their fair share without damaging the budget being allocated to population assistance. This engine of the world economy. assistance should be increased in future years. • Fifth, international law: The global community More effort must be given to bridging the knowl- needs to devel op a system of international law that edge gap in the poorest nations, to training and transcends the laws of the sepa rate nations. We need retraining for the unemployed, to provid ing better to transform a lawless world into one that has laws working conditions (especially for women and the everyone can understand and abide by. un der priv i leged), and to allocating more resources to •Sixth, the environment: We need to recognize health care, education, and cultural enrichment. that current lifestyles in the industrialized North are

15 fi fall 1999 unsustainable and will become increasingly so as The United Nations, unlike its precursor, the economic development and increasing consumption League of Nations, has played a vital role in the in the poorer nations of the South increase pressure world, but there is so much more that still needs on the global envi ron ment. Runaway consumption is to be accomplished. To solve problems on the We believe that already putting unprecedented pressure on the envi- transnational level and to contribute to planetwide there remains a ronment and placing those who consume the least development, we need gradually but drastically to in double jeopardy. The problem is to raise the con- transform the United Nations. Some of these chang- need to develop sumption levels of the one billion poorest who lack es will involve amending the UN Charter; others even one adequate meal a day while simul ta neous ly will entail radically altering the structure of the new global implementing more sustainable consumption pat- UN; these changes will require the consent of the institutions that terns that reduce environmental damage. member nations. But whatever alterations ensue, Global environmental problems must be dealt we should preserve those elements in the UN that will deal with with at the planetary level: reducing environmental have so dramatically improved the lives of millions pollution, including carbon dioxide and other green- on the planet. the problems house gases; developing alternative fuels; refor- The most fundamental change would be to esting denud ed lands; counteracting the erosion of enhance the effec tive ness of the UN by converting di rect ly and topsoil in cultivable areas; facil i tat ing environmen- it from an assembly of sovereign states to an assem- will focus on tally friendly businesses; limiting fishing on the bly of peoples as well. Such a transformation does high seas that threatens the extinction of entire fish have pre ce dents, including the self-conversion of the needs of populations; protecting endangered species; reduc- America’s early confederation of sovereign states ing the addictive lifestyle of conspicuous wasteful into the current federal system. If we are to solve our humanity as consumption; and banning all weapons of mass global problems, nation-states must transfer some of destruction. Measures to protect the environment their sovereignty to a system of transnational author- a whole. thus need high priority for the planetary community. ity. Failure to do so will risk having the world locked in conflict among sovereign states whose primary in ter est is sovereignty. We can scarcely afford such a IX waste of resources; the world’s people deserve better. Such a transnational system would no doubt engen- The Need for New Planetary der opposition from political leaders everywhere— es pe cially nationalist-chauvinists. But it could still Institutions evolve—and succeed—if we work for a planetary he urgent question in the twenty-first ethical consensus. century is whether human kind can devel- Any new transnational system should be demo- op global institutions to address these cratic and would have limited powers. There would problems. Many of the best remedies are be a maximization of autonomy, de cen tral i za tion, those adopted on the local, nation al, and and freedom for the independent states and regions regional level by voluntary, private, and of the world. There would also have to be a system Tpublic efforts. One strategy is to seek solutions of checks and balances as a safeguard against arbi- through free-market initiatives; another is to use trary power. The transnational system would deal in ter na tion al voluntary foundations and organi- primarily with questions that can only be solved zations for educational and social devel op ment. on the global level, such as security, the defense of We believe, however, that there remains a need to human rights, economic and social devel op ment, develop new global institutions that will deal with and the protection of the planetary environment. the problems direct ly and will focus on the needs of If these goals are to be achieved, then we offer the humanity as a whole. following reforms, working from the framework of In the aftermath of the Second World War a number the United Nations: of inter na tion al institutions, such as the United Nations • First, the world needs at some point in the future and the World Health Organization, were founded to to establish an effective World Parliament—and deal with these tasks. Unfortunately, a wide gap has elections to it based on population—which will rep- appeared between the way in which these institutions resent the people, not their governments. The idea of op er ate and the needs of the new planetary community. a World Par lia ment is similar to the evolution of the Existing insti tu tions must therefore change dramatical- European Parliament, still in its infancy. The current ly, or new institutions must be forged. UN General Assembly is an assembly of nations. This The de facto political boundaries of the world are new World Parliament would enact legislative pol- arbitrary. We need to go beyond them. We need to icies in a democratic manner. Perhaps a bi-cameral continue to defend the growth of democ ra cy in the legislature is the most feasi ble with both a Parliament diverse nations in the world community, but we also of peoples and a General Assembly of nations. The need to enhance the transnational rights of all mem- detailed formal structure can only be worked out bers of the planetary community. We need now more by a charter review convention that we recommend than ever a world body that represents the people of should be convened to examine thoroughly options the world rather than nation-states. for strengthening the UN and/or supplementing it

free inquiry 16 with a parliamentary system. their fair share of the global tax burden. Tax credits • Second, the world needs a workable security should be given for charitable donations for human system to resolve mil i tary conflicts that threaten the and social development. A levy on international peace. We need to amend the United Nations Charter fund transfers should be seriously considered to tax to achieve this aim. Thus the veto in the Security otherwise untaxed funds and to help finance social Council by the Big Five needs to be repealed. It development in the poorest countries. Many member exists because of historical circumstances at the end states refuse to pay their dues to the UN. For these of World War II that are no longer relevant. The basic states censure and stronger measures such as sanc- prin ci ple of world security is that no single state or tions should be imposed. The selective cancel la tions alliance of states has the right to undermine the polit- of burdensome debts by poor countries unable to ical and territorial integrity of other states by aggres- pay should be financed by this fund. sion; nor should any nation or group of nations be • Sixth, the development of global institutions allowed to police the world or unilaterally bomb oth- should include some procedure for the regulation ers without the concurrence of the Security Council. of multinational corporations and state monop o- The world needs an effective police force to protect lies. This goes beyond existing UN mandates. We regions of the world from conflict and to negotiate should en cour age free-market economies, yet we peaceful settlements. We recommend that the UN cannot ignore the planetary needs of humanity as Security Council, elected by the General Assembly a whole. If left unchecked, mega-corporations and and World Parliament, should require a three-quarter mo nop o lies are likely to impair human rights, the vote to take any security measures. This would mean environment, and the prosperity of certain regions of that if the current 15-member Council were retained, the world. Extreme disparities between the affluent then if four or more members disagreed, no action and the underdeveloped sectors of the planet can could be taken. be over come by encouraging self-help, but also by • Third, we must develop an effective World Court harnessing the wealth of the world to provide capital, and an In ter na tion al Judiciary with sufficient power technical aid, and educational assistance for econom- to enforce its rulings. The World Court in The Hague ic and social development. is already moving in this direction. This Court will •Seventh, we must keep alive a free market of ideas, have the power to try violations of human rights, respect diversity of opinion, and cherish the right to genocide, and transnational crimes and to adjudicate dissent. There is thus a special compel ling need to resist conflicting international disputes. It is essential that control of the media of communication, whether by As members of those states that do not as yet recognize its authority national governments, by powerful economic interests, be persuaded to do so. or by global insti tu tions. Dictatorships have used the the human •Fourth, the world needs a planetary environ- media for propagandistic purpos es, denying alternative com mu ni ty on mental monitoring agency on the transnational viewpoints. The mass media in capitalist soci et ies level. We recommend the strengthening of existing are often under oligopolic control. These media often this planet we UN agencies and programs most directly con- pander to the lowest common denominator in order to cerned with the environment. The United Nations maximize ratings. Facts are disregarded in the uncritical need to nurture Environment Programme, for example, should be acceptance of any New Age quackery, while reports a sense of given the power to enforce measures against serious of miracles gain more air time than the latest scientific eco log i cal pollution. The United Nations Population breakthrough. Many media—TV, radio, films, publish- optimism Fund must be allocated sufficient funding to satisfy ing—apparently feel little obligation to provide factual the unmet global need for contraception and there- or educational content. about the fore help stabilize population growth. Should these We eschew any form of censorship, whether agencies prove unable to cope with the massive practiced by gov ern ments, advertisers, or media pro- Human problems, a stronger planetary agency will need to prietors. Competition in the media, by the creation of Prospect. be created. public and not-for-profit media organizations, should •Fifth, we recommend an international system of be encouraged and all movement toward monopoly taxation in order to assist the underdeveloped sec- and oligarchical control should be resisted. Popular tors of the human family and to fulfill social needs voluntary movements to monitor the media and not fulfilled by market forces. We would begin with to publicize their more blatant excesses should be a tax levied on the Gross National Product (GNP) en cour aged. There is a special need to keep open of all nations, the proceeds to be used for economic access to the media of commu ni ca tion. This means and social assistance and development. This would that neither powerful global media oligopolies nor not be a voluntary contribution but an actual tax. nation-states should dominate the media. We need to The exist ing vital agencies of the United Nations mount a demo crat ic movement worldwide to allow would be financed by the funds raised. This includes for cultural diversity and enrich ment and a free give- UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Health Or ga ni za- and-take of ideas. tion, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other organizations. Wide international agreement on tax reform is needed to ensure that multinational corporations pay X

17 fi fall 1999 Optimism about the Human threatensE theNDORSED future of BYhuman THE existence. FOLLO WeWING alone are responsible DISTINGUISHED for our collective INDIVIDUALS destiny. Solving* Prospect our problems will require the coop er a tion and wis- The planetary dom of all members of the world community. It is inally, and perhaps most important, as mem- with in the power of each human being to make a dif- bers of the human com mu ni ty on this planet ference. PROFESSOR PAUL KURTZ, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW community is YORK AT BUFFALO; PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF we need to nurture a sense of optimism T h e HUMANISM, USA our own, and about the Human Prospect. Although many plane- problems may seem intrac ta ble, we have tary community is our own, and each of us can help each of us can good reasons to believe that we can marshal make it flourish. The future is open. The choices are RICHARD DAWKINS, NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD, help make it Four best talents to solve them, and that by goodwill for us to and dedication a better life is attain able by more m a k e . flourish. The and more members of the human community. Plan- Together we can realize the noblest ends and ide- als of e tary Humanism holds forth great promises for EDWARD O. WILSON, MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZO OL O- future is open. humankind. We wish to culti vate a sense of wonder human- GY, , USA and excitement about the potential oppor tu ni ties kind. The choices are for realizing enriched lives for ourselves and for for us to make. generations yet to be born. Ideals are progenitors of hose who endorse Humanist Manifesto 2000 the future. We will not succeed unless we resolve SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE, CBE, AUTHOR; CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA, SRI LANKA; CHANCELLOR, to do so; and we will not resolve to do so unless we Together we T INTERNATIONAL SPACE UNIVERSITY, SRI LANKA have confidence that we can. Any opti mism that we can realize the generate should be based upon a realistic appraisal of the possibilities of achievement, yet we need to noblest ends STEVE ALLEN, AUTHOR, ENTERTAINER, USA be motivated by the belief that we can overcome and ideals of adversity. Planetary Humanism rejects nihilistic philoso- do not necessarily agree with every provision humankind. phies of doom and despair and those that counsel in it. We do, however, accept its main princi- an escape from reason and freedom, that fester ples and RICHARD LEAKEY, ANTHROPOLOGIST, KENYA WILDLIFE in fear and foreboding, and that are obsessed offer it SERVICE, KENYA with apocalyptic scenarios of Armageddon. The in order human species has always faced challeng es. That to contribute to constructive dialogue. We invite is the continuing saga of our planetary adventure. o t h e r PAUL D. BOYER, NOBEL LAUREATE IN CHEMISTRY, USA As hu man ists we urge today, as in the past, that m e n humans not look beyond themselves for salvation. and women representing different traditions to join We alone are responsible for our own destiny, and w i t h SIR HAROLD W. KROTO, NOBEL LAUREATE, SCHOOL OF the best we can do is to muster our intelligence, us in CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, ENGLAND courage, and compas sion to realize our highest work- aspirations. We believe that a good life is possible ing for for each and every person of the planetary society a better world in the planetary society that is now of the future. Life can be meaningful for those emerg-TASLIMA NASRIN, AUTHOR, HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE, willing to assume responsibility and undertake the ing. cooperative efforts necessary to fulfill its promise. We can and ought to help create the new world of

tomorrow. The future can be wholesome and boun- FERID MURAD, NOBEL LAUREATE, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS tiful, and it can open up new, daring, and exciting HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER–HOUSTON, USA vistas. Planetary Humanism can contribute signifi- cantly to the de vel op ment of the positive attitudes so necessary if we are to realize the unpar al leled BARUJ BENACERAFF, NOBEL LAUREATE, DANA-FARBER opportunities that await humankind in the third CANCER INSTITUTE, USA millennium and beyond. Those who sign this document earnestly seek partnership with the diverse world cultures, includ- ing the major religious traditions of the world. We JEAN-MARIE LEHN, NOBEL LAUREATE, UNIVERSITÉ LOUIS PASTEUR, FRANCE believe it urgent that we strive for common ground and that we seek shared values. We need to enter into continued give-and-take—not simply with those who agree with us, but with those who may dif fer. In JOSÉ SARAMAGO, NOBEL LAUREATE, SPAIN the midst of our diversity and the plurality of our tra- ditions, we need to recognize that we are all part of an extended human family, sharing a common plan- ALAN CRANSTON, FORMER U.S. SENATOR, CALIFORNIA, USA etary habitat. The very success of our species now *Affiliations for identification only.

free inquiry 18 ARGENTINA BIOLOGY, COLLÈGE DE FRANCE; NEUROLOGICAL HUGO MOLECULAR LAB O RA TO RY, INSTITUT PASTEUR GÉRARD FUSSMAN, PROFESSOR, COLLÈGE DE DOBRICA C´ OSIC´ , AUTHOR; FORMER PRESIDENT, FEDERAL FRANCE, PARIS REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA JACQUES LE GOFF, SPECIALIST IN FRENCH MIDDLE AGE CIVILIZATION AND LITERATURE, ENESS DANIEL ESTRELLA, JEAN-CLAUDE PECKER, ASTRONOMER, COLLÈGE PUGWASH DE FRANCE; ACADEMY OF SCIENCES EVRY SCHATZMAN, ASTRONOMER, FORMER ETIENNE BAULIEU, DISCOVERER OF RU486, ACADEMY OF PRESIDENT, FRENCH PHYSICS ASSOCIATION; ACADEMY SCIENCES, INSERM, FRANCE OF SCIENCES CONFERENCE GREECE AUSTRALIA DENNIS V. RAZIS, THE DELPHI SOCIETY, ATHENS

JENS C. SKOU, NOBEL LAUREATE, BIOPHYSICIST, UNIVERSITY OF INDIA AARHUS, DENMARK G. R. R. BABU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PHILLIP INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION ADAMS, PUSHPA MITTRA BHARGAVA, FOUNDING DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, JILL TARTER, BERNARD M. OLIVER CHAIR, SETI INSTITUTE, USA , FORMER VICE CHANCELLOR, VISVA BHARATI , SECRETARY GENERAL, INDIAN RATIONALIST ASSOCIATION, MARIO MOLINA, NOBEL LAUREATE, CHEMISTRY, USA NARISETTI INNAIAH, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY; CHAIR, COMMITTEE OF CHILD ABUSE H. NARASIMHAIAH, BANGALORE SCIENCE FORUM, NATIONAL COLLEGE INDUMATI PARIKH, DIRECTOR, M. N. ROY HUMAN HERBERT A. HAUPTMAN, NOBEL LAUREATE, CHEMISTRY, USA DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AVULA SAMBASIVA RAO, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE, ANDHRA PRADESH; FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, ANDHRA COLUMNIST, COMMENTATOR, RADIO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY JOHN ARTHUR PASSMORE, PROFESSOR OF HISTOR- SIBNARAYAN RAY, RAJA RAMMOHUN ROY LIBRARY ICAL STUDIES, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY; FOUNDATION FORMER PRES I DENT, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES V. M. TARKUNDE, SENIOR ADVOCATE, SUPREME J. J. C. SMART, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, COURT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY RAVIPUDI VENKATADRI, EDITOR, HETUVADI BELGIUM NEPAL JEAN DOMMANGET, OBSERVATOIRE ROYAL DE GANGA PRASAD SUBEDI, SECRETARY, HUMANIST BELGIQUE, BRUSSELS ASSOCIATION OF NEPAL BRAZIL NETHERLANDS JOSÉ LEITE LOPES, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, CENTRO PIETER V. ADMIRAAL BRASILEIRO DE PESQUISAS FÍSICAS MAX ROOD, PROFESSOR OF LAW, RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT TE LEIDEN; FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE CANADA ROB A. P. TIELMAN, PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY, ROBERT BUCKMAN, PHYSICIAN UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT HENRY MORGENTALER, ABORTION RIGHTS NEW ZEALAND ACTIVIST MARVIN ZAYED, PH.D. BILL COOKE, LECTURER, MANAKAU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CHINA NORWAY YOUZHENG LI, INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY, CASS, BEIJING LEVI FRAGELL, PRESIDENT, IHEU BERNT HAGTVET, DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL COLOMBIA SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF OSLO RUBEN ARDILA, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, TOVE BEATE PEDERSEN, SECRETARY GENERAL, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBIA, BOGOTA NORWEGIAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION CROATIA POLAND RADOVAN VUKADINOVIC´ , PROFESSOR BARBARA STANOSZ, EDITOR, BEZ DOGMATU EGYPT RUSSIA MOURAD WAHBA, PRESIDENT, AVERROËS AND GARRY I. ABELEV, N. N. BLOKHIN CANCER THE ENLIGHTENMENT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION; RESEARCH CENTER FOUNDER, AFRO-ASIAN PHILOSOPHY ASSOCIATION YURI NIKOLAEVICH EFREMOV, DEPARTMENT HEAD, STERNBERG ASTRONOMICAL INSTITUTE, FRANCE MOSCOW STATE UNI VER SI TY ˘ R. M. BONNET, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY VITALII GINZBURG, PHYSICIST, ACADEMICIAN, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES JACQUES BOUVERESSE, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, ˘ COLLÈGE DE FRANCE VALERII KUVAKIN, PROFESSOR OF RUSSIAN JEAN-PIERRE CHANGEUX, PROFESSOR OF NEURO PHILOSOPHY, MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY

19 fi fall 1999 ALEXANDER V. RAZIN, PROFESSOR OF ETHICS, JAN LOEB EISLER, VICE PRESIDENT, MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION CHARLES W. FAULKNER, COLUMNIST, PSYCHOLOGIST SPAIN ADOLF GRÜNBAUM, ANDREW MELLON PRO- JOSÉ M. R. DELGADO, PROFESSOR OF NEUROBIOL- FESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF OGY, CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS NEUROBIOLOGICOS PITTSBURGH ALBERTO HIDALGO TUÑÓN, PROFESSOR OF THE THOMAS FLYNN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIRST SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE, UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO; AMENDMENT TASK FORCE SOCIEDAD ASTURIANA DE FILOSOFÍA PETER HARE, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO JAMES HAUGHT, EDITOR, CHARLESTON GAZETTE GEORGE KLEIN, PROFESSOR AND RESEARCH- REID JOHNSON, DEAN, CENTER FOR INQUIRY GROUP LEADER, MICROBIOLOGY AND TUMORBIOLOGY INSTITUTE CENTER, KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE RICHARD KOSTELANETZ, AUTHOR GERALD A. LARUE, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF SWITZERLAND BIBLICAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DIANA BROWN, REPRESENTATIVE, IHEU AT THE CALIFORNIA UN IN GENEVA THELMA Z. LAVINE, ROBINSON PROFESSOR, ROY W. BROWN, FOUNDER, WORLD POPULATION GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION PAUL B. MACCREADY, ENGINEER, FOUNDER/ CHAIRMAN, AEROVIRONMENT, INC. SYRIA TIMOTHY J. MADIGAN, EDITOR, UNIVERSITY OF SADIK AL AZM, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, ROCHESTER PRESS UNIVERSITY OF DAMASCUS MICHAEL MARTIN, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, UNIVERSITY UNITED KINGDOM MOLLEEN MATSUMURA, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COLIN BLAKEMORE, UNIVERSITY LABORATORY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION, BERKELEY PHYSIOLOGY, OXFORD JEAN C. MILLHOLLAND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BERNARD CRICK, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF POLI- EMERITUS, COUNCIL FOR SECULAR HUMANISM TICS, BIRKBECK COLLEGE, LONDON UNIVERSITY R. LESTER MONDALE, UNITARIAN MINISTER LORD LIONEL ELVIN, HOUSE OF LORDS EMERITUS SIR RAYMOND FIRTH, PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOL- JOE NICKELL, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, OGY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON CENTER FOR INQUIRY JIM HERRICK, EDITOR, NEW HUMANIST; ANTHONY B. PINN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF RATIONALIST PRESS ASSOCIATION RELIGIOUS STUDIES, COORDINATOR, AFRICAN- TED HONDERICH, GROTE PROFESSOR EMERITUS AMERICAN STUDIES, MACALESTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF MIND AND LOGIC, UNIVERSITY HOWARD RADEST, FORMER HEAD, ETHICAL COLLEGE LONDON CULTURE SCHOOLS ANWAR SHAIKH, AUTHOR ARMEN A. SAGINIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW HARRY STOPES-ROE, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, HORIZONS UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM DAVID SCHAFER, RESEARCH PHYSIOLOGIST, HAZHIR TEIMOURIAN, WRITER AND BROADCASTER U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (RETIRED) JANE WYNNE WILLSON, FORMER PRESIDENT, THEODORE SCHICK, JR., PROFESSOR OF BRITISH HUMANIST ASSOCIATION PHILOSOPHY, MUHLENBERG COLLEGE LEWIS WOLPERT, PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY, WARREN ALLEN SMITH, AUTHOR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON VICTOR J. STENGER, PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA USA ROBERT B. TAPP, PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION, NORM ALLEN, JR., DIRECTOR, AFRICAN UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA; DEAN, HUMANIST AMERICANS FOR HUMANISM INSTITUTE DEREK ARAUJO, PRESIDENT, CAMPUS RICHARD TAYLOR, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY FREETHOUGHT ALLIANCE YERVANT TERZIAN, DAVID C. DUNCAN PROFESSOR KHOREN ARISIAN, MINISTER EMERITUS, FIRST IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES, UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF MINNEAPOLIS LIONEL TIGER, PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY, JOSEPH E. BARNHART, PROFESSOR OF PHILOSO- RUTGERS—THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY PHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH LEWIS VAUGHN, EDITOR, FREE INQUIRY TEXAS IBN WARRAQ, AUTHOR H. JAMES BIRX, PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY, CANISIUS COLLEGE YUGOSLAVIA JO ANN BOYDSTON, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR JOVAN BABIC, CHAIR, FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY, EMERITA, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE VERN L. BULLOUGH, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR SVETOZAR STOJANOVIC´ , PROFESSOR AND PRESIDENT, EMERITUS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE MATT CHERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COUNCIL FOR SECULAR HUMANISM DANIEL C. DENNETT, CENTER FOR COGNITIVE STUDIES, PAUL EDWARDS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHILOSOPHY

The American Humanist Association (AHA), which holds the copyrights to Humanist Manifesto I as well as Humanist Manifesto II, has played a significant role in the development of humanist philosophy in the twentieth century, and continues to do so today. The AHA is the successor organization to the Humanist Fellowship which published Humanist Manifesto I in 1933, and is publisher of the Humanist magazine, in which Humanist Manifesto II appeared in 1973. Humanist Manifesto II was the product of an open process involving a broad base of humanist contributors. A Secular Humanist Declaration was published in FREE INQUIRY in 1980 and is copyrighted by the Council for Secular Humanism. A Declaration of Global Interdependence was published in FREE INQUIRY in 1988 and was endorsed by the International Academy of Humanism and the International Humanist and Ethical Union. It is copyrighted by the Council for Secular Humanism.

Incomplete list of signatures. free inquiry 20