This book is a philosopher's testament. In it I have
tried to describe in clear and simple terms that fully
rounded philosophy of life that I call Humanism. I have
given my own version of the much-debated concept of
Humanism, and both expect and welcome disagreement
with my interpretation of a viewpoint that in its funda-
mentals goes back at least as far as Athens of the fifth
century B. C. and the great Age of Pericles.

In my treatment I have aimed at conciseness and have
written what is essentially an introduction to the Humanist
philosophy. Accordingly, I have discussed very briefly or
have omitted entirely the details of many philosophic
problems that in a longer work would certainly merit ex-
tended consideration. For example, though I am well
aware of the profound influence of social and economic
factors upon philosophy, I have had space to sketch in
but little of that background.

This volume constitutes an expansion and revision
of a lecture course entitled "The Philosophy of Natural-
istic Humanism" given by me at Columbia University,
1946- 1949. I am grateful to the editors of The Humanist,
The Journal of Philosophy and The Journal of Religion

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