PS: The Alchemist is full of magic and mysticism and therefore does not in any way resemble what humanism stands for.
"According to Humanism, it is up to humans to find the truth, as opposed to seeking it through revelation, mysticism, tradition, or anything else that is incompatible with the application of logic to the observable evidence. In demanding that humans avoid blindly accepting unsupported beliefs, it supports scientific skepticism and the scientific method, rejecting authoritarianism and extreme skepticism, and rendering faith an unacceptable basis for action. Likewise, Humanism asserts that knowledge of right and wrong is based on the best understanding of one's individual and joint interests, rather than stemming from a transcendental truth or an arbitrarily local source."** Lamont, Corliss (1997). The Philosophy of Humanism, Eighth Edition. Humanist Press: Amherst, New York, 252-253. ISBN 0-931779-07-3. “Conscience, the sense of right and wrong and the insistent call of one's better, more idealistic, more social-minded self, is a social product. Feelings of right and wrong that at first have their locus within the family gradually develop into a pattern for the tribe or city, then spread to the larger unit of the nation, and finally from the nation to humanity as a whole. Humanism sees no need for resorting to supernatural explanations or sanctions at any point in the ethical process.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism#cite_note-6
I recognize all of those facts. And I think the author's notion of how things work in life is idiotic. Therefore, I hated the book and thought it was completely meaningless.
I just disliked the whole premise of the book. The writing was fine, and there were a couple good bits here and there ... but overall, it was worthless. I do not, in any way, subscribe to humanism and that's all I found in The Alchemist.It's much like "The Secret". It sounds good on paper, but I've never seen it actually happen. What if two people decide that their goals or stories are in direct opposition and only one can be realized? Does the Universe conspire to help both, negating itself in the process?
I have no doubt that it will. By the way, I love the avatar, what is it a picture of?
Hello LopsidedI wanted to say Hi and welcome to the Feminist group. I hope you will jump in an join us in the many discussions we have going at present and feel free to start one of your own. We will look forward to getting to know you better and exchanging ideas with you.Khabira
Take Tv Guide off of your god damn list.