'Humanism' is among the most powerful terms in historical and contemporary political, religious, and philosophical debates. The term serves to position itself in ideological conflicts and to cement a claim to interpretation, but is highly contradictory. This Element addresses 'humanism' in its striking contradictions. Contemporary definitions are confronted with the historical contexts the term 'humanism' is applied to. Based on Niethammer's invention of 'humanism' as an anti-enlightenment pedagogical concept (1808), the book does not present a mere conceptual history, but rather a theoretically oriented discourse, an examination of the front positions, between which humanism has been constructed. In this way, its 'impossibility' is shown, which is rooted in its strict contextuality. Secondly, historiographical alternatives to this dilemma are pointed out, in order to finally give suggestions not only for an ethical-normative work of the historian of humanism, but for dealing with 'humanism' in general, in connection with discourse-theoretical suggestions. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
| ISBN: | 9781009634243 |
| Publication date: | 5th March 2026 |
| Author: | Friedemann Stengel |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 75 pages |
| Series: | Cambridge Elements. Elements in the History of Philosophy and Theology in the West |
| Genres: |
Humanist philosophy Philosophy of religion Religious issues and debates History of religion Theology Humanist and secular alternatives to religion Left-of-centre democratic ideologies Historiography |
'Humanism' is among the most powerful terms in historical and contemporary political, religious, and philosophical debates. The term serves to position itself in ideological conflicts and to cement a claim to interpretation, but is highly contradictory. This Element addresses 'humanism' in its striking contradictions. Contemporary definitions are confronted with the historical contexts the term 'humanism' is applied to. Based on Niethammer's invention of 'humanism' as an anti-enlightenment pedagogical concept (1808), the book does not present a mere conceptual history, but rather a theoretically oriented discourse, an examination of the front positions, between which humanism has been constructed. In this way, its 'impossibility' is shown, which is rooted in its strict contextuality. Secondly, historiographical alternatives to this dilemma are pointed out, in order to finally give suggestions not only for an ethical-normative work of the historian of humanism, but for dealing with 'humanism' in general, in connection with discourse-theoretical suggestions. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
A Critical Genealogy of Humanism features in the following genres: Humanist philosophy, Philosophy of religion, Religious issues and debates, History of religion, Theology, Humanist and secular alternatives to religion, Left-of-centre democratic ideologies, Historiography
A Critical Genealogy of Humanism is available in Hardback, Paperback
A Critical Genealogy of Humanism was written by Friedemann Stengel and published by Cambridge University Press
A Critical Genealogy of Humanism has 75 pages
Yes it is part of Cambridge Elements. Elements in the History of Philosophy and Theology in the West series
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