Humanism

Definitions of humanism as educational movement, philosophical concept or existential ‘life stance’ have evolved over the centuries as the term has been adopted for a variety of cultural and political purposes and contexts, and reactions against humanism have contributed to movements such as structuralism, postmodernism and postcolonialism.

Tony Davies offers a clear introduction to the many uses of this influential yet complex concept, and this second edition extends his discussion to include:

• a wide-ranging history of the development of the term and its influences
• the implications of debates around humanism and post-humanism for political, religious and environmental activism
• discussion of the key figures in humanist debate from Erasmus and Milton to Heidegger, Foucault and Chomsky

A clear account of the major issues and debates, from classical to modern literature and drama. Key names discussed in this wide-ranging survey include Nietzsche, Heidegger, Foucault, Pico, Erasmus, Marx and Milton.

Tony Davies was formerly Professor and Head of the English Department at the University of Birmingham, from which he recently retired. He has edited Milton’s poetry and prose, and written on renaissance and modern literature, literary theory and the teaching of English.