Humanism is a philosophy that places central importance on human values and agency rather than religious dogma or supernatural forces. It originated from ancient Greek and Latin scholars and values reason and scientific inquiry over blind faith. Humanism aims to develop complete human personalities through education that emphasizes social virtues, creativity, and democratic principles in order to solve problems and increase human happiness and efficiency. The methods of teaching in humanism are based on developmental psychology and encourage play, cooperation, and teaching in students' mother tongues.

1. HUMANISM
AIMS & METHODS OF TEACHING

2. INTRODUCTION
 Very old philosophy
 Derived from the great minds and works in Eastern and Western history and
literature.
 Does not find its origin in experimental sciences and mathematical logistics.
 Movement to gain for man a proper recognition in the universe.
 Concerned with the restoration of lost values.
 Primary importance to man
 Man is the centre of all activities in the world.
 Purpose : to create interests in all spheres of life.

3. LITERAL MEANING
 Humaniora – means study of human body and surrounding nature.
 The term Humanism was coined by Friedrich Niethammer in 19th C.
 Cultural movement to emancipate the quest for human excellence.
 Implies a specific preferences for human values.
 Humanism means religious freedom.
 Blind faith on religious dogmas is to be left out.
 Truth must be based on reason.

4. HUMANISTS
• Greek and Latin scholars called themselves as “humanists”.
• West – Erasmus, Gellius, Cicero, Democritus, Boccaccio…
• East – Gautama Buddha, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ambedkar…
• Philosophers – Daniel Dennett, Corliss Lamont, John Dewey…
• Authors – Isaac Asimov, Salman Rushdie, Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood…

5. BASED ON TWO PRINCIPLES
 Values upheld by a nation affect history.
i. Good follows when a nation’s values are of the highest quality.
ii. Modern man must learn from history.
 Great literature stresses values –
Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Panchatantra.

6. AIMS OF EDUCATION
 Man-making
 Secular, rational, & scientific
 Realisation of humanist values in the individual & society
 Complete development of human personality
 Enables man to solve individual & social problems
 Increase efficiency & happiness of human beings
 Supports democratic philosophy of education
 Fundamental human values : liberty, equality, & fraternity
 Educational institutions should be based on democratic principles

7.  Seeks to realise peace upon earth
 Humanist tendency : rationalist & integral
 Individual & society are intimately related
 Basis of education – Human nature
 Emphasises the value of individual differences in education
 Makes education child-centred
 Aim of education – propagation of knowledge, social control, social development,
and preservation of social heritage.

8. METHOD OF TEACHING
 Based on psychology
 Child psychology, developmental psychology & educational psychology
 Social virtues are emphasised besides theoretical instruction
 Play-way method : team spirit & cooperation
 Mother-tongue
 Encourages originality & creativity
 National & international languages are taught at higher stages
 Encourage human communications on national & international stage

9. CONCLUSION
• Humanism is against all types of super naturalism or super humanism. It does not
aim at superman but only at man.
• Its central standpoint is faith in the dignity of man. The humanist ethics is not
governed by any religious faith other than faith in human dignity.
• It respects science but if science becomes an impediment, the humanists would
not hesitate to criticize it.
• It respects all human beings and is against all distinctions among human beings.
• It supports the idea of world citizenship.