New Humanism (Humanist Movement)

The Humanist Movement is an international volunteer organisation that promotes nonviolence and non-discrimination. It is not an institution. It takes its inspiration from the current of thought referred to as New or Universal Humanism that has been developed since 1969 by its founder Mario Rodríguez Cobos, pen name: Silo.

New Humanism focuses on the overcoming of pain and suffering at a personal, interpersonal and social level. It defines violence as anything that causes pain and suffering to human beings. In this way violence is seen to have many different aspects, not just the well-known physical form but also; economic, religious, psychological, sexual, ethnic, etc.

The Humanist Movement's conception is based on the Siloist thought, the major points of which are the following: Prior to thinking about his origin or destiny, the human being finds himself in a determined vital situation, one not of his own choosing. Thus, he is born submerged in a natural and also a social world plagued by physical and mental aggression that he experiences as pain and suffering. Consequently, he mobilizes himself trying to overcome pain and suffering. In his acting against these painful factors, he produces objects and signs which are incorporated into society and are transmitted historically. And all that is produced is loaded with meaning, with an intention and this intention is ultimately to surpass pain and suffering.

The history of mankind, then – of its economy, of its politics, of its science, of its art – is the history of the struggle against pain and suffering. And this struggle is the motor of the progress. This struggle is not between mechanical forces. It is not a natural reflection. It is a struggle between human intentions. And, precisely this is what enables one to speak of oppressors and oppressed, of just and unjust ones, of heroes and cowards. This is the only thing that enables one to rescue the personal subjectivity and is the only thing that enables one to practice with meaning the social solidarity and the commitment with the liberation of those discriminated against, be these majorities or minorities. At this point, a definition of "human being" is a must. It will not suffice to say "man is the social animal" or "man is the manufacturer of objects" or "man is the possessor of language", etc. In the Siloist doctrine "Man is the historical being whose mode of social action transforms his own nature."

In short, New Humanism is based on two basic points:

The project of the Humanist Movement is nothing less than to eradicate war, hunger, poverty and economic exploitation across the planet and develop a new system based on the value of human life as the central value, higher than money, power, prestige, etc. Siloists call this vision of the future the Universal Human Nation. The methodology used is to work in groups and undertake personal development activities as well as social projects. Once sufficiently experienced, new groups develop according to their interests.

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