ˈ(h)yüməˌnizəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: human (I) + -ism; in some senses probably from French humanisme or German humanismus
1.
a. : devotion to the humanities : literary culture
b. often capitalized : the learning or cultural impulse that is characterized by a revival of classical letters, an individualistic and critical spirit, and a shift of emphasis from religious to secular concerns and that flowered during the Renaissance
2. : devotion to human welfare : interest in or concern for man : humanity , humanitarianism
born in a city tenement, he early acquired the kind of humanism that is humanitarian — Donald Davidson
wrote that medicine was a social science and urged doctors to participate in the battles of humanism — B.J.Stern
3. : a doctrine, set of attitudes, or way of life centered upon human interests or values: as
a. : a philosophy that rejects supernaturalism, regards man as a natural object, and asserts the essential dignity and worth of man and his capacity to achieve self-realization through the use of reason and scientific method — called also naturalistic humanism, scientific humanism ; compare instrumentalism , pragmatism
b. often capitalized : a religion subscribing to these beliefs : religious humanism
c. : a philosophy advocating the self-fulfillment of man within the framework of Christian principles — called also Christian humanism ; see integral humanism
4. : new humanism