The 7 types of humanism and their characteristics

Humanism is a philosophical current that has had a great influence on both psychology and politics and the social sciences in general. However, it does not exist as something homogeneous, but there are different types of humanism.

Each of these kinds of humanism expresses, in its own way, the fundamental idea of ​​this way of thinking: that the lives of all beings matter human beings and that, by default, the lives of others must be respected without trying to unjustifiably alter them or without taking their opinion into account. Let's see how they do it.

What is humanism?

Humanism is a way of thinking that emphasizes the value of subjective and private experiences of each. Thus, for example, Humanistic Psychology takes many influences from phenomenology (the private and conscious sensations and experiences of each person are valuable and unique) and existentialism (each person builds a vital story that gives meaning to their existence).

In practice, in psychology humanism has been noted in therapeutic proposals such as the 

Gestalt therapy from Fritz perls and the contributions of psychologists such as Abraham Maslow or Carl rogers. This group of thinkers defended the idea of ​​not imposing a rigid system of intervention on the people, but to adapt to each case by letting the person take the reins of the sessions.

• Related article: "Maslow's pyramid: the hierarchy of human needs"

The main types of humanism

These are the fundamental characteristics of the different types of humanism. To fully understand them, however, it must be borne in mind that each of them has arisen in a different historical context, and they cannot be understood without understanding the degree of technological, philosophical and ethical development that existed at the time of their appearance.

1. Theocentric humanism

This kind of humanism bases all its morals on the existence of a god determined that reveals what is good and what is bad and, consequently, how human beings should be treated.

2. Historical humanism

This was a type of humanism born in Florence at the end of the Middle Ages. In him, the arts and intellectual activity gradually focused on the human, ceasing to consider that the divine was the center of everything.

3. Anthropocentric humanism

This type of humanism was the one that began to characterize Western societies from the Renaissance and, especially, from the time of the Enlightenment.

Here, the figure of God ceases to be the center of the moral system, and the human being takes all the leading role. He stops paying so much attention to the code of conduct written in sacred texts and new forms of humanistic ethics are formulated.

Similarly, the idea that one human being can control another is rejected; what can be controlled and subdued is nature, seen as a set of resources that can be used for the welfare of the species.

4. Empirical humanism

This is one of the types of humanisms that try to differentiate themselves from the rest by being more practical and applied. While other forms of this current of thought are based more on abstract ideas, such as the need not to dominate other human beings, this focuses on the rejection or acceptance of certain actions or specific attitudes.

For example, from empirical humanism violence is rejected, total freedom of freedom is declared. expression and beliefs, and emphasizes the need to highlight the ways of living life typical of minorities.

5. Existentialist humanism

This form of humanism highlights the importance of rejecting material and intellectual totalitarianisms that force people to be recruited for a specific cause, preventing them from thinking beyond is.

For existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre, it is the individual who must construct meaning for his own life without others interfering in this system of ideas and symbols.

6. Marxist humanism

Very based on the philosophy of the philosopher Karl Marx, this type of humanism that emerged from the Second World War places emphasis on the idea that the human being is a social being whose identity only emerges from interaction with others, allowed thanks to the solidarity bonds present in well cohesive and united societies.

This philosophy rejects the individualism of much of the other types of humanism, and points out that the individual welfare depends on collective phenomena in which everyone must participate in order not to manipulated.

7. Universalist humanism

It is a way of thinking heavily influenced by postmodern philosophy. It points out the need to create inclusive societies for all people, respect the different cultures that are present in society and not be guided only by rigid codes of conduct, but quite the opposite: appreciate spontaneity and creativity in all aspects of life lifetime.