Hans Widmer - The Concept of Uncompromising Humanism

The Concept of Uncompromising Humanism

Knowledge as the foundation

for an enabling and enabled society

Hans Widmer

English translation by Alison Layland and Dieter Rister

E-Book-Version 1.0

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Copyright © 2014 by rüffer & rub Sachbuchverlag GmbH, Zurich

Based on

First edition 2014

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2014 by rüffer & rub Sachbuchverlag GmbH, Zurich

info@ruefferundrub.ch | www.ruefferundrub.ch

Design and technical transformation of the e-book: Clara Cendrós

ISBN: 978-3-907625-84-2 (epub)

ISBN: 978-3-907625-85-9 (pdf)

ISBN: 978-3-907625-86-6 (kindle)

Content

What is to be gained from the Concept of Uncompromising Humanism? The key findings

The cycle begins

1. Unshakeable foundations of all knowledge: a priori intuitions

2. Matter from the void: dynamics of the logically essential continuum

3. Elementary particles: vortices and resonance in the smallest

4. Structures that communicate: life

5. Biological data processing: the basis for organs and complex organisms

6. Data processing decoupled from necessities: thought

7. Under tension—unbound: free will

8. Collateral gain from life-enhancing activity: happiness

9. Happiness for all: the enabling state

10. Enabled citizens: the only politically mature citizens

Appendix

Notes Picture credits Biography of the author

What is to be gained from the Concept of Uncompromising Humanism?

The key findings

The Concept of Uncompromising Humanism derives its findings step by step: starting with the way in which humans observe the world, through elementary particles to state philosophy. In order to manage the vast quantity of facts and conclusions in a reasonable space the Concept is expressed with a high degree of abstraction. Below is an overview of the key findings:

1.The world is knowable—without mystery of any kind. The process of knowing is also knowable (the Concept of Uncompromising Humanism is also a complete theory of knowledge).

2.The quintessential knowledge is this: human drives and intuitions

–are not distinct from the drives and instincts of other higher primates;

–are not, however, sufficient for successful navigation through a world designed by humans.

3.It is only reason that can show the innocent innermost being of a person the way through this world. Reason is at our service. The same reason, in the capacity of an accord between the members of a society, enables a framework to be formed within which all life can be led to fulfilment.

4.The basis for the success of reason is knowledge: of the world, of that which makes us human; for individuals, in particular the knowledge of that which drives and guides them. Knowledge is a hypothesis confirmed by reality; there is no knowledge that has not been provided by reality. The total knowledge of humanity comprises that which has been built up to date; there is no knowledge that is known by no one.

5.Thinking (equivalent to consciousness) is an evolutionary leap forward: what had until that point been mere biological data processing becomes independent, liberates itself from instinctive drive and guidance and builds up its own data basis. This includes a Self that instigates and coordinates thought.

6.Drives and intuitions communicate themselves to thought as feelings. A feeling is the command to solve a problem, to find out what is behind a sensation of unease, to preserve a status or to grasp an opportunity. Feelings have no meaning without thought and vice versa.

7.Free Will is the openness to the resolution of a command—not the freedom to choose the command, or who you are at the moment of choice.

8.Happiness is the reward for life-affirming behaviour—in all time horizons from the slightest activity to the shaping of one’s whole life. The release of hormones stimulates positive moods—with-out influence from the conscious mind

9.Over the full course of a life the Self builds the personality, which can transcend the biological drives and in this sense become “immortal”. Self-determination is an indispensable prerequisite for shaping a life and developing one’s own personality, and thus for happiness.

10.The sole purpose of the state is to ensure the personal freedom that allows the individual to unfold. It takes self-determination through to higher organisational levels; citizens form their state logically for themselves and are involved in it on a subsidiary level through direct democracy.

11.The prerequisite for an enabling state is enabled citizens and vice versa. Enabled means that they understand the problems of society as their own. The coevolution of enabled citizens and enabling state requires centuries. Enlightenment, self-determination and pluralism are its catalysts.

12.Enabling states form a union of states as propounded by Kant. States comprise culturally homogenous territories within which all is regulated by their constitutions. The dealings between states are regulated by treaties and movable structures.

The Concept of Uncompromising Humanism proves Lichtenberg’s assertion that “Essentially … all human beings could achieve fulfilment”. The means to this end is reason, working from reality, understanding every human being as a purpose in himself and contributing to solving problems of society as one’s own.

The cycle begins

An essential aspect of the constitution of all living structures is the urge to exploit the possibilities of existence to the full. New kinds of organisms need to be ever more adaptable in order to live among the existing ones. The ultimate development of biological evolution is the phenomenon of “consciousness”, which has spectacularly expanded the existential possibilities of the human species. This is clearly demonstrated by human beings’ domination of the world compared with the mere survival of their ancestors. It is also evident that consciousness has not been a tentative, gradual development, but an evolutionary leap forward .

By virtue of its superiority, this consciousness collectively creates a world that is above nature, for which the instincts, which successfully guide other primates through their niches in nature, are never sufficient. Only the conscious can guide people through a world created by conscious beings. The crux of this is that the instincts are the same, and the conscious is at their service.

In order to ensure that a “jungle of ever higher refinements”does not arise, the conscious must transpose instincts to a human culture. Humanity is still a long way from achieving this. Real human suffering does not spring from faulty design of the species, but—a frightening idea given historical and present atrocities—defects in the shaping and development of the conscious.

The necessary knowledge is put forward by this Concept on the basis of what science has produced so far, such as what is life, a human being, free will, happiness. Scientific knowledge is derived from the systematic questioning of what appears to be reality. Knowledge can only ever be obtained from such questioning. Philosophical work therefore starts with the incorporation of relevant knowledge: “The narrow gate that leads to wisdom.”Kant

Immanuel Kant,

1724–1804

Knowledge compellingly leads to an enabling form of organisation of human societies—in other words to one that offers all its members the framework for a fulfilled life. It also invites individuals to use this framework to the full. However, acquiring this knowledge depends on the will to do so, and putting it into practice requires self-control, both of which emerge from it. An enabling organisation also requires those knowledgeable, self-disciplined individuals—enabled individuals—who are its product. This desirable state therefore cannot be decreed, but can be catalyzed—by enlightenment.