About the Humanist Academy

Our Honourary Associates: Iain Banks, Dr Susan Blackmore, Prof Raymond Bradley, Prof C Brown, Roy Brown, Julian Baginni, Prof Richard Dawkins, Prof Daniel Dennett, Prof Roger Downie, Prof Anthony Duff, Prof Anthony C. Grayling, Dr R Joseph Hoffman, Kenneth Kumphreys, Sir Harold Kroto, Lady Margaret Kroto, Prof Paul Kurtz, Dr Stephen Law, David Mills, Prof John Shook, Prof Udo Schuklenk (see Population of the Academy for more details on our Honourary Associates).

Humanism is based on a naturalistic outlook on life committed to the civilizing principles of Democracy and Human Rights and restorative approaches to social life and justice. It is supported by the best knowledge and experience humankind has accumulated over millennia and from this it has formulated a moral framework.

The Humanist Academy is an educational charity registered in Scotland. Its principal aims are to increase the public understanding of the Humanist worldview, and to promote this worldview as a practical life-stance fit for contemporary living.

As a first step in achieving these aims, Humanism has to be widely known and understood. The Academy's primary remit therefore is to work closely with the local education system and participate in a wide range of educational activities throughout the country. These activities include: providing a range of literature and multi-media products to schools, colleges and the general public; running courses, seminars and panel discussions as participating in as many educational (and social) activities and events as possible. Our intention is that with a strong educational programme, the Humanist worldview becomes as familiar as those that have dominated the Scottish cultural landscape for centuries, and that it ensures that the secular section of the population have the option of choosing a modern, respected moral framework on which to anchor their lives.

If you would like any further information about the Academy or to participate in any of these activities, or to support our work in some way (either financial or by donating your time and skills), we would be glad to hear from you, so please get in touch: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it