Is Humanism still valid? An Essay of Humanism, Antihumanism and Posthumanism

Abstract

This study seeks to find out a philosophical meaning of the validity of humanism against contemporary antihumanism and posthumanism. The distinctive characteristics of humanisms in each era were reviewed from Renaissance era through age of Enlightenment to the contemporary. It is remarkable not only that there is no intrinsic meaning of humanism across time but also meanings of humanism in particular context of each era differ in very many ways but still have family resemblances in Wittgenstein’s sense. Humanism discourses have been diversified in the process of responding to challenges that each era has posed. We can say that language games of humanisms are ongoing process with diversity in Wittgenstein’s sense. The fact that traditional humanism, antihumanism and posthumanism are in the state of conflict is actually a sign for a good perspective to future, since the conflict itself shows a certain direction that future humanism is headed. There is no need to limit the scope of humanism since we can diversify and expand humanistic values as possible. This study is basically self-examination of the relation between ‘us’ and forms of life in our age. As studying current humanism discourses, we can see the scope of ‘us’ in humanism is expanding to all beings in the universe that we are related with. Humanism is an ongoing open concept. The humanism discourses are always dreaming a better world just like human beings. They will play variations as diversifying and expanding humanistic values as responding to challenges of times.