L. Susan Stebbing by Howard Coster © National Portrait Gallery, London
The Humanist Heritage Project aims to bring to life an often overlooked but historically influential aspect of our heritage – humanism and the impact it has had locally and nationally on art, literature, and social, political, and ethical culture throughout UK history.
The Humanist Heritage website was launched in 2021 to celebrate the 125th birthday of Humanists UK, which was founded in 1896 as the Union of Ethical Societies. As well as the history of the organisation, this website charts the significant presence and impact of humanist thought in the UK throughout history. Humanism emphasises values of reason, compassion, and inclusion, rejecting supernatural explanations of the world in favour of living well in the one life we have.
Humanism is a long-lived and active philosophy, embodied not only by those more modern individuals who have self-identified as humanists but by people across the world for thousands of years. As such, this site includes thinkers from the ancient world through to the present day. This includes those who have paved the way for later developments in freethought and rationalism, whether through scientific discovery, political activism, or new philosophies.
New to humanist history? Start here.
Looking for learning resources? You can find them here.
