What is humanism. Merriam-Webster defines humanism as “a system of values and beliefs that is based on the idea that people are basically good and that problems can be solved using reason instead of religion” Moreover, American Humanist Association defines humanism as “Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. Some part of Still Alice refers to both definition of humanism : people built up the new medicine , Alice go to hospice and Lydia did not attend university.
In the definition, Merriam-Webster defines that “people are basically good and that problem can be solved using reason instead of religion” In Still Alice , it talks to have invented a cure with a new medicine. Demonstrate that the solution is to use scientific reasoning. Scientific knowledge is a knowledge that needs to be explained why the results. Alzheimer disease has no cure but the human try to build up new drugs because humans have the wisdom to solve the problem by science and not relying on the supernatural, Solve the problem with reason and they believe that humans have the ability to do.
The second definition , A.H.A defines that “human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives” Alice went to hospice to observation and inquiry because she knows that someday her memory will stretch down. It shows about a responsibility and she chooses her last part of life with herself. She do not want to be a burden to her family so, even last, she did not, but it show about her choice, the path of life with herself
Next , Lydia did not attend university . It is referred to the second definition. She chooses her way with herself. She chose to study acting instead entrance to a university that her mom told her. She follow s her dreams because “to give meaning and shape to their own lives” in A.H.A definition. Although her mother or who would choose the path for her But she was not interested and committed to studying the next show. At last she chooses a new path in her life. The university entrance exam . It shows that she has to change her own life path.
A humanism has many meanings, a human can be solved the problem with reason and not relying on religion, like the human effort to making new medicine ,they have reason and wisdom, persistent effort was involved in completing the work. Humanism is a human have responsibility and they can choose their life with themselves as Alice try to solve the problem, she prepares herself for the future and Lydia chose her dream to be an actress and do not permit her mom to control her life. All of this is some part of a story that can explain what the humanism is.