Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago

WHERE DID HUMANISM COME FROM? IS IT A MODERN PHILOSOPHY?
Some form of humanism can be traced back to ancient India and the Greece of Socrates. Centuries later, the collective creative work and genius of artists of the Renaissance foreshadowed a new view of humanity. They celebrated the emerging, individual human spirit upon which the “architects” of the Enlightenment later forged their revolutionary words/ideas of reason and equality. Before long, the roots of a strong humanist expression began to emerge and nurture the monumental societal revolution in thought: that individual persons actually mattered and were worthy beings of respect and dignity by reason of their very existence, not because of family status or wealth.

No longer would common, everyday people be tagged by birth to serve and be sacrificed as expendable pawns of the whims of the kingdom or state. Although authentic freedom for some groups, such as African slaves, was postponed until quite recent times, the process of true liberation, once begun, was unstoppable and continues on today.

WHEN AND HOW DID THE ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY BEGIN?
The Ethical Culture Movement, as it is generally known in the East, had its beginnings in the late 1800’s. Felix Adler, son of the principal rabbi of Manhattan’s Temple Emmanuel, returned from formal academic, social, and philosophical studies in Europe to give an important inaugural address to a large assembled congregation in a magnificent gothic temple on Fifth Avenue. During Adler’s talk, he avoided mention of either God or the greatness of the Hebrew faith. Instead, he spoke of the need for openness, inclusion, and for all persons of good will to come join together and work for the benefit of humankind. His vision was for a religion for the modern world that would bring diverse people together in a unified spirit to accomplish good things.

ANY HUMANISTS I MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH? ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NOTE?
Albert Einstein, Issac Asimov, Jane Addams, Carl Sagan, Kurt Vonnegut, Clarence Darrow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, directly or indirectly, embraced the equivalent of humanist philosophy.
Also, many of our founding Fathers and early nation-builders held a non-dogmatic, democratic and humanistic perspective.

Several activists and philosophers who played significant roles in the development of modern humanist thinking for the new era first appeared, in significant numbers, on the local Chicago scene. The University of Chicago’s Tom Dewey and Robert Hutchins, for example, not only contributed much to that new philosophy, but masterfully applied its precepts and principles directly to education, thus transforming the teaching and learning experience and affecting social policies throughout the country.

Jane Addams, renowned social worker-innovator of Hull House fame, made frequent presentations at the Ethical Society lecture series. And the Henry Booth House, still functioning as an important urban social services center, began as an Ethical Society settlement house project. It was named after Judge Henry Booth, a prominent Chicago Justice involved in the Juvenile Court system who also headed the Chicago Ethical Society for many years.

Chicago Ethical Society members played founding roles in several social service developments which became prominent national institutions. The Chicago Urban League, the Legal Aid Society, Visiting Nurse’s Association, and the NAACP, to name a few. Internationally speaking, many Ethical Society members were present at the first International Races Conference in 1911, attended by Gandhi.

Clearly, our past is rich with meaningful ideas and accomplishments which live on today. Our challenge is to continue to build upon and to be worthy of that powerful legacy.