世俗主義與人文精神能否協調?: 評價保羅.庫爾茨的世俗人文主義

Translated title of the contribution: Is secularism compatible with the humanistic spirit?: An evaluation of Paul Kurtz's secular humanism

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    Abstract

    世俗主義是一種建基於現世的自足性和反宗教的世界觀,而人文精神廣義地可理解為對人的尊嚴、理性和幸福的肯定。世俗人文主義則把自然主義世界觀與人文精神結合起來。本文首先會以美國哲學家庫爾茨(Paul Kurtz)為代表人物,詳細闡釋世俗人文主義的思想,第二部分則作出批判性的評價,我會論證:人文精神本有很多可取之處,但把它種植在自然主義的泥土上,是難以成功的。例如:世俗人文主義把道德建基於人類的理性和經驗上,然而理性和經驗並不真箇能為道德的無上律令提供穩固根基。世俗人文主義的理論不單有不少難以疏解的張力,而且在實踐上也容易導致人文精神的扭曲。

    Secularism is an anti-religious worldview which affirms the self-sufficiency of the secular world. "Humanistic spirit" is broadly interpreted as the affirmation of the dignity and rational nature of human beings, and an emphasis on their well-being. Secular humanism is a system which tries to combine the naturalistic worldview with the humanistic spirit.This article will first provide a detailed exposition of the tenets of secular humanism, taking the system of the American philosopher Paul Kurtz as the representative. Then the article will critically examine secular humanism. I will argue that despite the merits of the humanistic spirit, it is hardly feasible to root the humanistic spirit in the soils of naturalism. For example, secular humanism tries to use human reason and experience as the foundation of morality. However, human reason and experience cannot really ground the categorical imperative required by morality. Moreover, secular humanism does not only suffer from many insoluble contradictions theoretically, it will also easily lead to the distortion of the humanistic spirit in practice.
    Translated title of the contributionIs secularism compatible with the humanistic spirit?: An evaluation of Paul Kurtz's secular humanism
    Original languageChinese (Traditional)
    Pages (from-to)85-115
    Number of pages31
    Journal建道學刊
    Issue number42
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2014

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