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HUMANISTIC SOCIOLOGY: PHANTOM MOVEMENT OR REALITY? 57
Defining Humanism Answers to the stated questions depend in part, of course, on what is meant by "humanistic". For present purposes, I define the term as belief that every human has potential worth and should have the opportunity to develop to the greatest extent possible consistent with the development of others. * Corollary to this belief is the conviction that the belief can be implemented only in a society where equalitarianism and justice are basic values, and where truly democratic controls, due process, free inquiry, and free speech and press are meaningfully supported.
A humanistic sociology, therefore, is one which helps a society develop the characteristics indicated. And this means, in turn, that humanistic sociology is and must be value-committed in contrast to the value-free emphasis of the past; and its practitioners, to be effective, must typically engage in radical-i.e., fundamental, going to the root-analysis and action. But opting for such analysis and action does not imply that sentimentalism should replace science; it does not suggest that the humanistic perspective requires one to be soft-headed as well as soft-hearted, it does not take"...the distrust of reason as its model” (Bendix, 1970 : 741). As I indicate in another contex (Hoult, 1974 : Ch. 4), properly controlled science can be an invaluable aid in reaching humanistic goals.
It is obvious that humanism is a sheer faith. It has no more scientific basis than does traditional religion. But to its adherents, it is an utterly pragmatic view ; it is a version of enlightened self-interest, springing from a conviction that the alternatives to it contribute to a social order that is doomed to degradation if not total destruction. One of the most likely alternatives today is the technocratic state conducted by "experts" who have but one prime value: mechanical efficiency. Such experts are 1984-types who, for example, did medical experiments in Nazi death camps, permitted known black American syphilis victims to die untreated so that specialized autopsy knowledge might be increased, and who today, under sponsorship of the U. S. Department of Defense, do health-and life-threatening research on human beings without their informed consent (Jacobs, 1972).
What can we do about the situation ? Perhaps nothing, given the withdrawal tendencies and political indifference of so many of today's youth, together with other depressing political, economic, and ecological conditions. But if anything practical can be done, then the humanistic answer is to build a new society where justice is the watch-word and all individuals have a maximum of freedom tempered by a sense of responsibility for the welfare of others. Humanistic sociology's part in building such a society lies primarily in providing analysis and measuring techniques which pinpoint sources of injustice in such a way that observers are inspired to respond enthusiastically to appropriate calls for action.
This is not humanism per se, according to philosopher Paul Kurtz (1969:9-11); he says it is merely one among several basic principles that many humanists agree are essential to a meaningful definition of their philosophy. It is nevertheless the aspect of humanism that I wish to emphasize here.