Whether it’s in the news, political or television debate, the word “humanism” is gaining traction in many aspects of our lives. Yet humanism can be difficult to define in terms of what it refers to or how we can apply it to our daily lives. Humanism, more than a philosophy, is a modus vivendi. When, after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, Byzantine scholars began to migrate to the West, especially to Italy, they brought with them their libraries and knowledge of Greco-Roman culture. The Middle Ages in the West had no time for the writings of Homer, Plato and Aristotle, but the Byzantine migration returned them to the stage and updated the ideas the West had forgotten during the Dark Ages. It was the beginning of the Renaissance… and of humanism.
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Humanism as a concept referred to the study of Ancient Greek and Latin writings, from which a series of vital teachings could be extracted to form a whole life philosophy. And not in vain, because today we are witnessing an authentic renaissance in humanism as understood through the reading and study of the great Greco-Roman classics as a starting point for living better, or at least in accordance with the values that maximize human potential, as described by authors such as Irene Vallejo and Nuccio Ordine.
Humanism starts from the simple but powerful idea that human beings are at the center of their own development and can employ all their potential if they can connect knowledge, creativity and values. Learning the classics and how to apply them in our day-to-day can be the key to completely changing our way of living in the world and, above all, our purpose.
Practical humanism involves increasingly accepting human realities
Beyond the world of books, humanism can have a practical application at ground level, helping us to grow and improve as people both at a personal and professional level. But, in the purest humanist style, let’s ask ourselves what we mean by “practical application”. Practical humanism has nothing to do with productivity indexes or spreadsheets, it’s rather a new way of looking at things with the intention that, in time, our perspective broadens and incorporates more and more human realities. In his manifesto, «The Usefulness of The Useless», Nuccio Ordine defends the importance of knowledge as an end to itself for its free and disinterested nature, removed from all practical and commercial associations, affirming that it can exercise a fundamental role in cultivating the spirit and the civil and cultural development of humanity. In this context, he argues, everything that helps and improves us can be considered useful.
Getting to know those around us, broadening our perspectives in order to understand theirs, and seeking harmony is a first step in humanism. Applying this to the workplace, regarding our team in all its complexity, with all the diversity and individuality of each member, can help us to progress and get the most out of people’s qualities. A curiosity for getting to know realities that are not our own, and incorporating them into our cosmic view, can only result in positive outcomes, both in decision-making and daily evolution, as well as installing a process of increasing trust and collaboration, and ceasing of any hostility.
“I grow old ever learning many things,” wrote the poet and statesman Solon of Athens
The word “process” is important in this context, since humanism is a tool of the continuous present: the adaptability and curiosity that allows us to be aware of our position and always be disposed to advance and improve on our personal and professional journeys. “I grow old ever learning many things,” wrote the poet and statesman Solon of Athens, thus summarizing the idea of continuous learning in which humanism is rooted.
To grow and progress does not have to be just a synonym for increasing productivity. It can also be about increasing resilience and the future continuity of an activity we are in the process of developing. Reflecting on our reality through philosophy and getting to know other realities through reading goes much further than training or the cultivation of culture. It helps us to be more present, more aware of the world surrounding us and with whom we are sharing it. The Roman poet and playwright Terence said: “Nothing that is human is alien to me.” Remembering and applying this maxim can be a good starting point for improving our journey through life and our environment, including the workplace.
Dalia Alonso holds a degree in Classical Philology from the University of Oviedo. Her writing reflects a thoughtful approach to major social and business challenges. She is currently an editor at Ethic magazine, where she covers topics such as leadership, productivity, and social and workplace transformation. She has also worked in strategic communications and storytelling for various organisations, helping to craft narratives that resonate with corporate values.