Humanism

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/humanism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical milestones?Influenced by classical antiquity, Renaissance scholarship, and Enlightenment rationalism
2. What is the contemporary focus?Advocates for human rights, democracy, secularism, and global well-being
3. Why do people believe in humanism?Because humanism trusts that our brains and hearts can help us create fair, kind, and smart ways to live together. It shows that everyone has worth and can help build a good future.
4. How did humanism start?Humanism began a long time ago with Greek and Roman thinkers who studied people and how to live well. It grew during the Renaissance and Enlightenment when people loved learning and believed in science and reason.

Human Agency: The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own free choices.
Non-Theistic: Not believing in or relating to a god or gods.
Empirical Observation: Information gained through direct experience and the senses, verifiable by experiment.