Humanist Manifesto III
Humanist Manifesto III - Overview
Published in 2003 by the AHA the Humanist Manifesto III superseded the Humanist Manifesto II. This manifesto sought to make its affirmations more general in its tenets then the previous two versions.
Humanist Manifesto III Affirmations
Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. Humanists find that science is the best method for determining this knowledge as well as for solving problems and developing beneficial technologies. We also recognize the value of new departures in thought, the arts, and inner experience—each subject to analysis by critical intelligence.
Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change. Humanists recognize nature as self-existing. We accept our life as all and enough, distinguishing things as they are from things as we might wish or imagine them to be. We welcome the challenges of the future, and are drawn to and undaunted by the yet to be known.
Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond. We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.
Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. We aim for our fullest possible development and animate our lives with a deep sense of purpose, finding wonder and awe in the joys and beauties of human existence, its challenges and tragedies, and even in the inevitability and finality of death. Humanists rely on the rich heritage of human culture and the lifestance of Humanism to provide comfort in times of want and encouragement in times of plenty.
Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence. The joining of individuality with interdependence enriches our lives, encourages us to enrich the lives of others, and inspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.
Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness. Progressive cultures have worked to free humanity from the brutalities of mere survival and to reduce suffering, improve society, and develop global community. We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and we support a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits of human effort so that as many as possible can enjoy a good life.
Signature List
Philip Appleman Poet and distinguished professor emeritus of English, Indiana University
Khoren Arisian Senior Leader, NY Society for Ethical Culture
Bill Baird Reproductive rights pioneer
Frank Berger Pharmacologist, developer of anti-anxiety drugs
Howard Box Minister emeritus, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Tennessee
Lester R. Brown Founder and president, Earth Policy Institute
August E. Brunsman IV Executive director, Secular Student Alliance
Rob Buitenweg Vice president, International Humanist and Ethical Union
Vern Bullough Sexologist and former copresident of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
David Bumbaugh Professor, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Matt Cherry Executive director, Institute for Humanist Studies
Joseph Chuman Visiting professor of religion, Columbia University, and leader, Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, New Jersey
Curt Collier leader, Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture, New York
Fred Cook Retired executive committee member, International Humanist and Ethical Union
Carlton Coon Former US Ambassador to Nepal
Richard Dawkins Charles Simonyi professor, University of Oxford
Charles Debrovner President, NACH/Humanist Institute
Arthur Dobrin Professor of humanities, Hofstra University and leader emeritus Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, New York
Margaret Downey President, Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia
Sonja Eggerickx Vice president, Unie Vrijzinnige, Belgium, and vice president International Humanist and Ethical Union
Riane Eisler President, Center for Partnership Studies
Albert Ellis Creator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and founder of the Alber Ellis Institute
Edward L. Ericson Leader emeritus, Ethical Culture
Roy P. Fairfield Cofounder, Union Graduate School
Antony Flew Philosopher
Werner Fornos President, the Population Institute
Levi Fragell President, International Humanist and Ethical Union
Arun Gandhi Cofounder, M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
Kendyl Gibbons President, Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association
Babu R.R. GogineniExecutive director, International Humanist and Ethical Union
Sol GordonSexologist
Ethelbert HaskinsRetired treasurer of the Humanist Foundation
Jim HerrickEditor, the New Humanist
Pervez HoodbhoyProfessor of physics at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Fran P. HoskenEditor, Women’s International Network News
Jone Johnson LewisPresident, National Leaders Council of the American Ethical Union
Stefan JonassonImmediate past president, HUUmanists
Larry JonesPresident, Institute for Humanist Studies
Edwin KaginFounder and director, Camp Quest
Beth LamontAHA NGO representative to the United Nations
Gerald A. LarueProfessor emeritus of biblical history and archaeology, University of Southern California
Joseph LeveeBoard member, Council for Secular Humanism
Ellen McBrideImmediate past president, American Ethical Union
Lester MondaleRetired Unitarian Universalist minister and signer of Humanist Manifestos I and II
Henry MorgentalerAbortion rights pioneer
Stephen MumfordPresident, Center for Research on Population and Security
William MurryPresident and dean, Meadville-Lombard Theological School
Sarah OelbergPresident, HUUmanists
Indumati ParikhPresident, Center for the Study of Social Change, India
Philip PaulsonChurch-state activist
Katha PollittColumnist, the Nation
Howard RadestDean emeritus, the Humanist Institute
James “Amazing” RandiMagician, founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation
Larry ReykaPresident, the Humanist Society
David SchaferRetired research physiologist, U.S. Veterns Administration
Eugenie ScottExecutive director, National Center for Science Education
Michael ShermerEditor of Skeptic magazine
James R. SimpsonProfessor of international agricultural economics, Ryukoku University, Japan
Warren Allen SmithEditor and author
Matthew Ies. SpetterAssociate professor in social psychology at the Peace Studies Institute of Manhattan College, NY
Oliver StoneAcademy award-winning filmmaker
John SwomleyProfessor emeritus of social ethics, St. Paul School of Theology
Robert TappDean, the Humanist Institute
Carl ThitchenerCo-minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst and of Canadaigua, New York
Maureen ThitchenerCo-minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst and of Canadaigua, New York
Rodrigue TremblayEmeritus professor of economics and of international finance, Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Kurt VonnegutNovelist
John WestonMinisterial settlement director, Unitarian Universalist Association
Edward O. WilsonProfessor, Harvard University, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner
Sherwin WineFounder and president, Society for Humanistic Judaism
Dr. George B. KauffmanProfessor of Chemistry, California State University at Fresno
Nobel Laureates
Philip W. AndersonPhysics, 1977
Paul D. BoyerChemistry, 1997
Owen ChamberlainPhysics, 1959
Francis CrickMedicine, 1962
Paul J. CrutzenChemistry, 1995
Pierre-Gilles de GennesPhysics, 1991
Johann DeisenhoferChemistry, 1988
Jerome I. FriedmanPhysics, 1990
Sheldon GlashowPhysics, 1979
David J. GrossPhysics, 2004
Herbert A. HauptmanChemistry, 1985
Dudley HerschbachChemistry, 1986
Harold W. KrotoChemistry, 1996
Yuan T. LeeChemistry, 1986
Mario J. MolinaChemistry, 1995
Erwin NeherMedicine, 1991
Ilya PrigogineChemistry, 1977
Richard J. RobertsMedicine, 1993
John E. SulstonMedicine, 2002
Henry TaubeChemistry, 1983
E. Donnall ThomasMedicine, 1990
James Dewey WatsonMedicine, 1962
Past AHA Presidents
Edd Doerr1995-2002
Michael W. Werner1993-1994
Suzanne I. Paul1992
Lyle L. Simpson1981-1984
Bette Chambers1973-1979
Lloyd L. Morain1969-1972, 1951-1955
Robert W. McCoy1966-1968
Vashti McCollum1962-1965