Faith in Humanity: Humanism for Everyone

Three selected contemporary concepts representing different philosophical traditions—materialistic (Tadeusz Kotarbiński), religious (Gabriel Marcel), and existentialist (Karl Jaspers) — are united by a belief in humanity and personal dignity. In each of these concepts, this belief forms the foundation of a humanistic attitude expressed through trust in others, love, cooperation, and self-sacrifice. This attitude refers to specific ethical models in each concept: for Kotarbiński, it is the ideal of a decent person, meaning a trustworthy guardian; for Marcel, the ideal of availability, indicating openness to others and serving them; for Jaspers, the ethos of everyday life. The chapter indicates that these ideals are suited to contemporary individuals, and the humanistic attitude founded upon them can serve as both an indication and a task for their realization, becoming a “humanism for all”.