Editing Meaning of life (section)

====Secular humanism====
{{Further|Secular humanism}}
[[File:HumanismSymbol.svg|left|thumb|upright|The "[[Happy Human]]" symbol representing secular humanism]]

Per secular humanism, the [[Human|human species]] came to be by reproducing successive generations in a progression of [[Evolution|unguided evolution]] as an integral expression of [[nature]], which is self-existing.<ref name="humanifesto1">{{cite web|title=Humanist Manifesto I |url=http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto1.html |work=American Humanist Association |date=1933 |access-date=26 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730070437/http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto1.html |archive-date=30 July 2007 }}</ref><ref name="humanifesto2">{{cite web |title=Humanist Manifesto II |work=American Humanist Association |date=1973 |url=http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto2.html |access-date=1 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809102124/http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/manifesto2.html |archive-date=9 August 2007 }}</ref> Human knowledge comes from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis (the [[scientific method]]), and not from supernatural sources; the nature of the [[universe]] is what people discern it to be.<ref name=humanifesto1/> Likewise, "[[intrinsic value (ethics)|values]] and realities" are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry"<ref name=humanifesto1/> and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by [[critical thinking|critical intelligence]].<ref name="humanifesto3">{{cite web|title=Humanist Manifesto III |work=American Humanist Association |date=2003 |url=http://www.americanhumanist.org/3/HumandItsAspirations.php |access-date=1 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809103515/http://www.americanhumanist.org/3/HumandItsAspirations.php |archive-date=9 August 2007 }}</ref><ref name="CDSH">{{cite web |title=A Secular Humanist Declaration |work=Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (now the Council for Secular Humanism) |date=1980 |url=http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=declaration |access-date=1 August 2007 |archive-date=17 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817084107/http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=declaration |url-status=dead }}</ref> "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context."<ref name=humanifesto2/>

People determine human purpose without supernatural influence; it is the human personality (general sense) that is the purpose of a human being's life which [[Secular humanism|humanism]] seeks to develop and fulfill:<ref name= humanifesto1/> "Humanism affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity".<ref name=humanifesto3/> Humanism aims to promote [[enlightened self-interest]] and the [[common good]] for all people. It is based on the premises that the [[happiness]] of the individual person is inextricably linked to the well-being of all humanity, in part because humans are social animals who find meaning in [[interpersonal relationship|personal relations]] and because cultural progress benefits everybody living in the [[culture]].<ref name= humanifesto2/><ref name=humanifesto3/>

The philosophical subgenres [[posthumanism]] and [[transhumanism]] (sometimes used synonymously) are extensions of humanistic values. One should seek the advancement of [[Human|humanity]] and of [[biocentrism (ethics)|all life]] to the greatest degree feasible and seek to reconcile [[Renaissance humanism]] with the 21st century's [[technoscientific]] culture. In this light, every living creature has the right to determine its personal and social "meaning of life".<ref>{{cite web |author=Nick Bostrom |title=Transhumanist Values |work=[[Oxford University]] |date=2005 |url=http://www.nickbostrom.com/ethics/values.html |access-date=28 July 2007 |author-link=Nick Bostrom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701062134/http://www.nickbostrom.com/ethics/values.html |archive-date=1 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From a [[Secular humanism|humanism]]-psychotherapeutic point of view, the question of the meaning of life could be reinterpreted as "What is the meaning of ''my'' life?"<ref>Irvin Yalom, ''Existential Psychotherapy'', 1980.</ref> This approach emphasizes that the question is personal—and avoids focusing on cosmic or religious questions about overarching purpose. There are many therapeutic responses to this question. For example, [[Viktor Frankl]] argues for "Dereflection", which translates largely as to cease endlessly reflecting on the self; instead, engage in life. On the whole, the therapeutic response is that the question itself—what is the meaning of life?—evaporates when one is fully engaged in life. (The question then morphs into more specific worries such as "What delusions am I under?"; "What is blocking my ability to enjoy things?"; "Why do I neglect loved-ones?".)<ref>See also: [[Existential therapy]] and [[Irvin D. Yalom]].</ref>