Every human life form encapsulates an idea of humankind and humanity. Today, this very idea is challenged by the various and diverging needs for cultural orientation in the age of globalization. One of the recent attempts to meet these challenges is provided by a new humanism with an intercultural intent. Such humanism can be conceptualized only by the collaborative efforts of different academic disciplines at exploring the human being as the gist of what is meant by humanity. Thus, this volume explores the pertinent fields of knowledge from the perspectives of philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, economy, psychology, neurobiology, history, and gender studies. Focusing on the guiding question of what is meant by being a human, the contributions of this volume encompass a fascinating spectrum of insights, which will orientate future discussions on humanity and humanism.

作者簡介

Jorn Rusen

　　Senior Fellow at the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut (Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities) at Essen, Germany; Professor emeritus for General History and Historical Culture at the University of Witten/Herdecke, head of the research project (2006 –2009) on “Humanism in the era of globalisation – an intercultural dialogue on culture, humanity, and values” at the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut in Essen.

Preface

Jrn Rusen
Introduction: Enquiring about Mankind

I. Foundations
Gerald Huther
Neurobiological Approaches to a Better Understanding of Human Nature  and Human Values

Christoph Antweiler
Pan-cultural Universals–a Foundation for an Inclusive Humanism

Georg W. Oesterdiekhoff
Man on the Way Towards Intellectual Growth and Humanity–Anthropological Foundations of History and Social Change

II. Cultural Manifestations
Hubert Cancik
Europe – Antiquity – Humanism

Heiner Roetz
Confucian Humanism

Umesh C. Chattopadhyaya
Indian Humanism

Jon Ruen
Classical Humanism – a Historical Survey                                                   
Oliver Kozlarek
Man and World in Latin American Humanism

III. Current Issues
Gunter Dux
Humanism and Its Interpretation in Secular Modernity – The Responsibility of Politics for Enabling a Humane Form of Life

Ilse Lenz
Differences of Humanity from the Perspective of Gender Research

Jurgen Straub
Personal Identity : A Concept in Humanist Tradition?

Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer
Chances for a Global Humanism in the Conflict of Cultures

Notes on Contributors

Bibliography