LEXLOCI
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The determination, as to how the individual is to be treated, is based upon the place of the individual on the scale of development. This model essentially produces a class system which is inherent to progressive systems in general.
The exclusivity inherent in Historical Morality is what makes the concept of Humanism necessary. Even the fascist religious and political movements
such as the Roman Catholicism of the Middle Ages or the Nazis can be
considered forms of Historical Morality, in which fascist authority attempts
to promote models for human behavior based on more perfect, elitist and
superior models for human likeness to God or superman. Those of inferior
status either considered to be possessed of ungodliness or poor genes are purged in the interest of a greater human and moral condition. The concept
of Humanism attempts to transcend the divisions inherent in Historical Morality by declaring that all humans are essentially born equal and in their common humanity deserve to be treated with and equality of respect.
The premises of Historical Morality based on the absence of inherent value in the physical world, assumes that morality as proper behavior in terms of
social relations, must be created, developed, learned and corresponded to
by the individual. The premise of Humanism is that the born condition of humankind is good or at least neutral and that human character is not
inherently flawed. Thus from this perspective, if it is not humankind that is
flawed, what accounts for human evil must come from the environment as the social conditioning of the individual. This puts the onus and responsibility for human behavior upon humankind as Historical Morality never did. It was the responsibility of the individual to conform to moral models but if one did not,
the problem could be scapegoated to human nature or the devil.
When the problem of moral responsibility is not an inherent congenital
character flaw, the solution then, can only be a proper social environment.
This environment is one in which the social, economic, cultural, religious and politically related backwardness of poverty, disease or lack of education is eliminated or curtailed.
HUMANISM (3 OF 4)
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