“Neohumanism is new expansion of Humanism, which has been evolving for many centuries. The Humanist movement pioneered a progressive approach based on human rights, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or ability, and the roots of such thinking have been evolving for many centuries. In the West, the roots of such thinking can be found in early Greek philosophy, the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightment. A more recent expression of Humanism is the 1990 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which forms the foundation for current early childhood educational approaches, and which represents an important socio-moral evolution of human consciousness. As human consciousness continues to evolve, a natural evolution is to extend this same rights-based consciousness towards other living beings, as well as the natural world itself. Neohumanism is an evolution of humanistic consciousness towards an expanded ecological consciousness, based on love, respect and appreciation for the entirety of creation. For a philosophy to succeed, in must be based in truth. The truth is that humanity does not stand alone, apart, or above all other entities. Hence a philosophy centered only on human rights can never fully solve the world’s problems. We are interlinked with all things, as is our future. Neohumanism recognizes this truth, and seeks to educate a new generation of youth with this realization at its core.
Already there is an awareness that unlimited consumerism and materialism are not sustainable, and are severely affecting the delicate biosphere of our planet, causing an ecological crisis. We see this reflected in climate change, extinction of species, increases in diseases related to the industrial pollution of the environment, etc. Thus developing Neohumanist awareness benefits not only the altruistic few, but for the continued welfare of all humanity, as we must explore ways to live in balance with the rest of nature. It requires a profound paradigm shift, which is much more easily grasped in childhood, as it is a time when children already feel in harmony and connection with the world surrounding them. In Neohumanist education, this sense of connection is nurtured and protected, in order to preserve the ability to remain authentic, cultivating a strong character based on empathy and morality.
“If one receives the fundamentals of education in the formative period of one’s life, one will keep oneself all right in the teeth of the greatest trials and tribulations in life. A bamboo, when green, can be shaped or bent in any way you like. Once it ripens, any attempt to reshape it will break It. “ –P.R. Sarkar, the founder of Neohumanist Education
