An entertaining history of humanist thought
Sarah Bakewell’s book arrives as anti-humanist forces muster once again
Near the start of her account of humanism, Sarah Bakewell draws an important distinction. Anti-humanists, she writes, despise the material world and seek either to escape it using religion or remake it by means of totalitarian politics. Humanists, by contrast, are cautious optimists who embrace the possibility that common endeavour can unite people and improve their lot.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Lessons unlearnt”
Culture April 22nd 2023
From the April 22nd 2023 edition
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