HASSNERS 8 Statements (September 2009)

Humanist - try to live a good life without religious or supernatural beliefs. More

Atheist - De facto Atheist antitheists who affirm, in all probability, that god(s) do not exist. More

Scientific - Science & the scientific method is the best way (eg evolution v creationism) to understand the world. More

Secularist - challenge religious privilege & discrimination. More

Naturalistic - the natural world (the Universe) is all that exists; nothing supernatural or mystical. All events may be explained by natural causes. More

Evolutionary - thought and biology evolve over time. More

Rationalist - truth can be discovered by reason. More

Sceptics - disposed to incredulity & doubt hence suspend final judgment More

Evolutionary replaces Ethical in the 'E' of HASSNERS

To celebrate, during 2009, Charles Darwins' 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of the Species, HASSNERS will change the 'E' in HASSNERS from 'Ethics' to 'Evolutionary'.

'Ethics' is already implied in 'H' for 'Humanism'.

Evolutionary - thought and biology evolve over time.

Thought is Evolutionary. Thought evolves over time. Evolutionary Psychology views human nature as a universal set of evolved psychological adaptations to recurring problems in the ancestral environment.

Biology is Evolutionary. Evolutionary biologists document the fact that evolution occurs over time.

Mapping Council of Secular Humanism "Affirmations of Humanism" to HASSNERS Statements

crabsallover mapped The Council of Secular Humanism "Affirmations of Humanism: A Statement of Principles" to HASSNERS Statements (February 2009).

Council of Secular Humanism: The Affirmations of Humanism - A Statement of Principles

• We are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems.
• We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.
• We believe that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life.
• We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities.
• We are committed to the principle of the separation of church and state.
• We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual understanding.
• We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance.
• We believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the handicapped so that they will be able to help themselves.
• We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity.
• We want to protect and enhance the earth, to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suffering on other species.
• We believe in enjoying life here and now and in developing our creative talents to their fullest.
• We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence.
• We respect the right to privacy. Mature adults should be allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their sexual preferences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have access to comprehensive and informed health-care, and to die with dignity.
• We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. There are normative standards that we discover together. Moral principles are tested by their consequences.
• We are deeply concerned with the moral education of our children. We want to nourish reason and compassion.
• We are engaged by the arts no less than by the sciences.
• We are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos.
• We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking.
• We affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a source of rich personal significance and genuine satisfaction in the service to others.
• We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality.
• We believe in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings.

HASSNERS 8 Statements (February 2009)

Humanist - live a good life without religious or superstitious beliefs. More

Atheist - de facto atheist antitheists who affirm, in all probability, that gods do not exist. More

Scientific - science & the scientific method is the best way (eg evolution v creationism) to understand the world. More

Secularist - challenge religious privilege & discrimination. More

Naturalist - the natural world (the Universe) is all that exists; nothing supernatural or mystical. All events may be explained by natural causes. More

Ethical - ethical standards are worked out by every individual, not by gods. More

Rationalist - truth can be discovered by reason. More

Sceptics - disposed to incredulity & doubt hence suspend final judgment; are intellectually cautious & continually test their knowledge. More

Mapping of CSH Statement of Principles to HASSNERS Statements (February 2009 by crabsallover).

Humanist - live a good life without religious or superstitious beliefs. More

• We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual understanding.
• We believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the handicapped so that they will be able to help themselves.
• We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity.
• We want to protect and enhance the earth, to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suffering on other species.
• We believe in enjoying life here and now and in developing our creative talents to their fullest.
• We respect the right to privacy. Mature adults should be allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their sexual preferences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have access to comprehensive and informed health-care, and to die with dignity.
• We affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a source of rich personal significance and genuine satisfaction in the service to others.
• We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality.
• We believe in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings.

Atheist - de facto atheist antitheists who affirm, in all probability, that gods do not exist. More

• We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.

Scientific - science & the scientific method is the best way (eg evolution v creationism) to understand the world. More

• We believe that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life.
• We are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos.
• We are engaged by the arts no less than by the sciences.

Secularist - challenge religious privilege & discrimination. More

• We are committed to the principle of the separation of church and state.
• We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities.
• We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance.

Naturalist - the natural world (the Universe) is all that exists; nothing supernatural or mystical. All events may be explained by natural causes. More

• We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.

Ethical - ethical standards are worked out by every individual, not by gods. More

• We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence.
• We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. There are normative standards that we discover together. Moral principles are tested by their consequences.
• We are deeply concerned with the moral education of our children. We want to nourish reason and compassion.

Rationalist - truth can be discovered by reason. More

• We are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems.

Sceptics - disposed to incredulity & doubt hence suspend final judgment; are intellectually cautious & continually test their knowledge. More

• We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking.

HASSNERS 8 Statements, February 2009

Humanist - live a good life without religious or superstitious beliefs. More

Atheist - de facto atheist antitheists who affirm, in all probability, that gods do not exist. More

Scientific - science & the scientific method is the best way (eg evolution v creationism) to understand the world. More

Secularist - challenge religious privilege & discrimination. More

Naturalist - the natural world (the Universe) is all that exists; nothing supernatural or mystical. All events may be explained by natural causes. More

Ethical - ethical standards are worked out by every individual, not by gods. More

Rationalist - truth can be discovered by reason. More

Sceptics - disposed to incredulity & doubt hence suspend final judgment; are intellectually cautious & continually test their knowledge. More

Vote in the Poll - see column to the right

HASSERS now HASSNERS

HASSERS or HASSNERS? Vote for 'Naturalistic'

Are you Naturalistic? The natural world (i.e. the Universe) is all that exists. All observable events in nature are explainable only by natural causes. Nothing supernatural or mystical exists.

We have had 13 Votes For and None against (in a few days) the statement 'Naturalistic'. The name of this group will be changed from HASSERS to HASSNERS with immediate effect.

Thanks to everyone who voted and to Naumadd for his idea.










HASSERS Associate member Naumadd (Seattle, USA) joined on 2nd January 2009. He suggests "a statement that appears missing - NATURALIST - HANSSERS affirm that "nature" is synonymous with "exists" in that nature is all that exists, all that ever has, and all that ever will exist.

Some positive statement regarding the nature of reality or "all that exists" must be made which provides the basis for all other positive statements. More clearly, one needs a positive metaphysical statement that supports one's positive statements regarding epistemology (the nature of knowledge), ethics (the nature of values), politics (the nature of human relationships) and aesthetics (the nature of beauty and ugliness). Granted, in the seven statements there are hints as to one's position in these categories, however, in the least, a clear statement regarding one's belief on the nature of reality must set the stage for the rest.

For secular humanist atheist ethical rationalist sceptics there is a very clear difference between their answer as to the basic nature of reality and the answer of theists. That basic difference sets the stage for all other disagreements."

Naumadd suggested 'Naturalistic be  added

I replied ..
"Thanks Naumadd for your Naturalist statement suggestions. Naturalistic is a term used by Brights - http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/bright/bright_ind... & http://www.the-brights.net/and I do think it captures an important element of the HASSERS statements which is not explicitly stated. I'm going to create a poll to see what others think of Naturalistic as an addition to HASSERS to form acronym HASSNERS or HANSSERS.

From Wikipedia, "Philosophical naturalism is, as a position, the idea that all phenomena can be explained in terms of natural causes and laws. In its broadest and strongest sense, naturalism is the metaphysical position that "nature is all there is and all basic truths are truths of nature."^[1] This is generally referred to as metaphysical or ontological naturalism. Any method of inquiry or investigation or any procedure for gaining knowledge that limits itself to natural, physical, and material approaches and explanations can be described as naturalistic."

This is the meaning of Naturalistic in the HASSNERS statements.

NB. Another basic form, called methodological naturalism, is the epistemology and methodological principle which forms the foundation for the scientific method. It requires that scientific hypotheses are explained and tested by reference to natural causes and events.^[2] Yet another form of naturalism is the idea that the methods of science should be used in philosophy.

• Center For Naturalism has other definitions of Naturalism (which HASSNERS do not necessarily subscribe to)
• and a FAQ
  

HASSNERS - Humanist

HASSNERS Ist Statement

Humanist

HASSNERS Humanist try to live a good life 
without religious or superstitious beliefs.

updated September 2009

*****

Possible Redefintions & Comments of HASSNERS Humanist term

Other Definitions of Humanism
The most succinct definitions of Humanism are generally stated earliest.

Humanism is a godless philosophy based on reason and compassion (COHE, Continuum of Humanist Education) (10 words)

Humanism is a positive alternative to religious belief, emphasising reason and shared values (12 words)

Humanism is a positive alternative to religious belief based on reason, evidence and shared values (15 words)

Humanists hold a non-religious outlook - seeking to achieve a more open, just and caring society. (SHH) (16 words)

HUMANISM: an ethical approach to life without religion; Humanists think
we can be good without God. (Suffolk Humanists) (16 words)

Humanism is the belief that we can live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. Humanists make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values. We seek to make the best of the one life we have by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves. We take responsibility for our actions and work with others for the common good. (BHA est.1963) (61 words)

Many many more Definitions of Humanism ...

Scientific - HASSNERS

HASSNERS 3rd Statement

Scientific

HASSNERS - Science & the scientific method is the best way (eg evolution v creationism) to understand the world.

updated September 2009

******

"BHA Science Group Vision: A world in which important decisions are
made by applying the scientific method to evidence rather than
according to superstition." (April 2008)

Science
(wikipedia) (from the Latin scientia, 'knowledge') refers to any systematic knowledge or practice or to a system of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific method, as well as to the organized body of knowledge gained through such research.

Scientific Method
(wikipedia) is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. It is based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses. These steps must be repeatable in order to predict dependably any future results. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many hypotheses together in a coherent structure.

Rationalist - HASSNERS

HASSNERS 6th Statement

Rationalist

HASSNERS - truth can be discovered by reason.

updated September 2009

******

A Rationalist (wikipedia) is someone who believes in Rationalism. A Rationalist believes that "the criterion of truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive."

Famous Rationalists include Plato, Socrates, Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza and Kant.

Rationalists believe "that reason has precedence over other ways of acquiring knowledge" or even "that Rationalism is the unique path to knowledge".

Rationalism is often contrasted with empiricism. Empiricism holds that ideas come to us through experience, either through the five external senses or through such inner sensations as pain and pleasure, and thus that knowledge is essentially based on or derived from experience. Rationalism & empiricism are not mutually exclusive - you can be both a rationalist and an empiricist.

Sceptics - HASSNERS

HASSNERS 8th Statement

Sceptics

HASSNERS - disposed to incredulity & doubt hence suspend final judgment.

updated September 2009

******
Amendments to HASSERS Statements - Sceptics

Other Definitions of Sceptics (wikipedia)

Scepticism (UK) or skepticism (USA) is derived from the greek for skeptomai, to look about, to consider. Scepticism is

1. an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity
   
2. the doctrine that true knowledge is uncertain
   
3. the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism
   
4. a method of obtaining knowledge through systematic doubt and continual testing
5. the arbitrariness, relativity, or subjectivity of moral values
6. a method of intellectual caution and suspended judgment
   

A scientific sceptic questions the reliability of certain kinds of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation - the scientific method.

Scientifically-sceptical questions include health claims surrounding homeopathy; the plausibility of supernatural entities (such as ghosts, angels, and gods); the existence of telepathy; topics such as alien visitations, UFOs, crop circles, astrology, intelligent design and other claims the skeptic sees as unlikely to be true on scientific grounds.

Activist sceptics or "debunkers" aim to expose in public what they see as the truth behind specific extraordinary claims.