The Courage to Become: The Virtues of Humanism [Paperback]

Paul Kurtz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0275960161 | ISBN-13: 978-0275960162

Does life have meaning if one rejects belief in God? This book responds affirmatively to that question. Paul Kurtz, America's leading secular humanist, provides a powerful defense of the humanist alternative, rejecting both religious spirituality and nihilism. In this inspirational book, Kurtz outlines the basic virtues of the secular humanist outlook. These virtues include courage, not simply to be or to survive, but to overcome and become; that is, to fulfill our highest aspirations and ideals in the face of obstacles. The two other virtues Kurtz identifies are cognition (reason and science in establishing truth) and moral caring (compassion and benevolence in our relationships with others). Kurtz offers an optimistic appraisal of the "human prospect" and outlines a philosophy both for the individual and the global community.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kurtz, a former copresident of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, says he is writing not philosophy but eupraxophy?instructions for a good and practical life. So his book resembles a creed?that of a liberal Protestant except that God has been abolished and the sense of community somewhat weakened in consideration of the biological nature of man. (Kurtz finds our genes less altruistic than the abandoned God and cites the ultra-conservative philosopher Antony Flew, who rules against the imposition of egalitarianism by the state.) Humanism opens alternatives to traditional sexual arrangements and familial organization. Though we must supply the meaning of our lives, humanism is not a license to go on an egomaniacal binge; human animals live in communities and share a common reason. So Kurtz thinks we have duties to each other, future generations, and the environment. But he is sure (though he offers no arguments) that science has disposed of God and immortality. He does not ask whether there might be more than one kind of knowledge, reason, and informative language or whether all values are in space and time. This is not a book to persuade nonhumanists but rather to provide a clear, readable, and encouraging outline of the prospects for those who put their trust in science alone. The book is rather more conservative than would be most people who call themselves humanists, but, that aside, it does its job very well?as well one might expect from the author of 30 books, many of which map the same ground.?Leslie Armour, Univ. of Ottawa
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Kurtz, a former copresident of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, says he is writing not philosophy but eupraxophy--instruction for a good and practical life....This is not a book to persuade nonhumanists but rather to provide a clear, readable, and encouraging outline of the prospects for those who put their trust in science alone....it does its job very well...”–Library Journal

“A powerful and persuasive work....[a] rare combination of clarity and inspiration, of enthusiasm and moderation.”–New Humanist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Paperback (June 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275960161
• ISBN-13: 978-0275960162
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Kurtz, professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Transcendental Temptation, The Courage to Become, Embracing the Power of Humanism, plus nine hundred articles and reviews. He is the founder of the Center for Inquiry/Transnational, the Council for Secular Humanism, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He has appeared on many major TV and radio talk shows, and has lectured at universities worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The core values of secular humanism, February 28, 2003

By 

Mark I. Vuletic (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Courage to Become: The Virtues of Humanism (Paperback)

In this eloquent little book, Paul Kurtz expounds upon the three core values of secular humanism: courage, cognition, and caring. The section on cognition can be somewhat heavy going at points for non-philosophers (and frankly I disagree very much with the pragmatic emphasis) but most of the book reads like a sermon. This book offers inspiration without appeal to religion, and will challenge those who think atheists cannot have high standards of personal conduct and civic duty.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A sober guide, June 9, 2008

By 

calmly - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Courage to Become: The Virtues of Humanism (Paperback)

Can secular humanism make do without mythology? Perhaps not: Kurtz appeals to the myth of Prometheus. Stories have their place, even amidst this rather dry philosophy. Sartre is alluded to ("Man is condemned to invent man") but anything like Sartre's storytelling is missing. The depth of existentialist humanism seems to be missing as well and the passion. There is no "Saint Genet" here but instead the rules of reason. Attention to critical thinking and pragmatic naturalism can avoid escape into "transcendental theism" (and, although Kurtz omits it) (immanent) mysticism. The challenge of skeptical nihilism is also considered. How to avoid the comfort of theism or the license or despair of nihilism? Courage, cognition, and a caring that is also mindful of a sense of obligation to posteriority: that we don't mess the world up for future generations. With a belief in human potential, with that Promethean will to not only survive but to thrive, mindful that we will die, our courage must go beyond that of being into that of becoming.

Seem sufficient? It may be already too familiar to me...although no less of a challenge and at least clearly and succinctly spelled out. Kurtz is, however, too dispassionate for my tastes, let's admit that if we could believe in some god or gods we would. Let's admit that if we really felt we shared in some mystical power, we'd proclaim it. We have our desperate longings too. But we're stuck, too postmodern, too messed up, too positively disintegrated. Somehow we need to find a sane way to go on, to be reasonable, to care for one another, to hope we can get by.

This book may be for me forgettable. Not that it isn't well-considered but it doesn't seem heartfelt enough. It may be a great help to those less familiar with humanism. These virtues may be too well-known to me for me to appreciate the importance of emphasizing them. The analysis doesn't seem to go deep enough. It seems boring. I'd expect humanism will have to do better. I want more context, more passion. Not that I expect magic but I expect more. Perhaps too much. Kurtz asks if atheists can be inspired to meet the challenges of our lives and the answer I get from this book is: "barely". Perhaps some deeper consideration of economics, sustainability and the particular historical challenges of our times were due: the sense of urgency seems missing.

Secular humanism itself in the U.S. seems to lack organizations of size. One new group that includes self-identified secular humanists but also others who have a naturalist world view is the Internet community the Brights' Network. I suggest looking at their web site. They may be small now (in terms of explicit registration) but seem to have some momentum (disclosure: I recently registered with them). The noun "a Bright" was coined primarily to suggest a new Enlightenment, i.e. a new era of freedom from religious abuses, but just the name itself has been controversial. Although not a membership organization itself, it is my own hope that the Brights' Network will have a success that the humanist organizations (in the U.S. at least) do not seem to have had.

No easy answers. I'll have to have the courage to become. So will you. It's not something Kurtz can give us. Will we recognize that and invent ourselves? Or fall back to reading some ancient texts, listening to some comforting story. Secular humanism may not be as intriguing as fictions can be but it may keep our minds clear as we work out our future.

5.0 out of 5 stars An expansion of Kurtz's secular ethics, August 18, 2011

By 

PhilosopherZeus (Edinburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Courage to Become: The Virtues of Humanism (Paperback)

This book is an elaboration and extension of humanistic ideas found in earlier works of Paul Kurtz (most specifically, Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Secularism and Living Without Religion: Eupraxophy), however, this book stands on its own and doesn't require familiarity with the earlier works.

This small book provides a brief but concise introduction to three positive humanistic virtues (courage, cognition, and caring), by comparing and contrasting them with a theistic perspective, and from the perspective of a sceptical nihilist. The book provides the atheist and theist alike with a means to explore what can constitute a life of meaning. Because of this comparative approach, there is an expected amount of criticism of the other two opposing views. What is most welcome, though, is that the criticism is civil in tone, and the humanist perspective is presented in a positive way.

Thus, this book is useful at several levels. First it provides the reader with a good introduction to several humanist virtues that can assist in developing an affirmative life of meaning. This is done through a thorough, but civil comparison with two opposing views. And finally, it does so in a positive and constructive way.

If, after reading this, you seek a more sustained analysis of these types of ideas by Kurtz, consider looking at Kurtz's books Forbidden Fruit and Living Without Religion.