Humanism: A Very Short Introduction

Stephen Law author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:27th Jan '11

£8.99

Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.

Humanism: A Very Short Introduction cover

Religion is currently gaining a much higher profile. The number of faith schools is increasingly, and religious points of view are being aired more frequently in the media. As religion's profile rises, those who reject religion, including humanists, often find themselves misunderstood, and occasionally misrepresented. Stephen Law explores how humanism uses science and reason to make sense of the world, looking at how it encourages individual moral responsibility and shows that life can have meaning without religion. Challenging some of the common misconceptions, he seeks to dispute the claims that atheism and humanism are 'faith positions' and that without God there can be no morality and our lives are left without purpose. Looking at the history of humanism and its development as a philosophical alternative, he examines the arguments for and against the existence of God, and explores the role humanism plays in moral and secular societies, as well as in moral and religious education. Using humanism to determine the meaning of life, he shows that there is a positive alternative to traditional religious belief. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

  • Winner of Awarded the 2011 Morris D. Forkosch Award for Humanist Book of the Year.

ISBN: 9780199553648

Dimensions: 174mm x 112mm x 10mm

Weight: 132g

176 pages