Homaranismo ( en, Humanitism) is a

philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...

developed by

L. L. Zamenhof L. L. Zamenhof (15 December 185914 April 1917) was an ophthalmologist who lived for most of his life in Warsaw. He is best known as the creator of Esperanto, the most widely used constructed international auxiliary language. Zamenhof first dev ...

, who laid the foundations of the

Esperanto Esperanto ( or ) is the world's most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Created by the Warsaw-based ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, it was intended to be a universal second language for international communi ...

language. Based largely on the teachings of

Hillel the Elder Hillel ( he, הִלֵּל ''Hīllēl''; variously called ''Hillel HaGadol'', ''Hillel HaZaken'', ''Hillel HaBavli'' or ''HaBavli'', was born according to tradition in Babylon c. 110 BCE, died 10 CE in Jerusalem) was a Jewish religious leader, sag ...

, Zamenhof originally called it ''Hillelism''. He sought to reform

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...

because he hoped that without the strict dress code and purity requirements, it would no longer be the victim of antisemitic propaganda. The basis of Homaranismo is the sentence known as the Golden Rule: ''One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself''. Zamenhof himself wrote in the preface to his book Homaranismo:

''Under the name "Homaranismo" ..I mean "striving for humanity", for the elimination of interethnic hatred and injustice, and for such a way of life that could gradually lead not theoretically but practically to the spiritual unification of humanity.''

Based on this idea, he came to the conclusion that this philosophy could be a bridge between religions, not just a subset of Judaism. Zamenhof subsequently renamed his philosophy Homaranismo. While many different motivations drew early Esperantists to that movement, for Zamenhof Esperanto was always a means by which to facilitate improved human relations, especially beyond boundaries of race, language and culture. Zamenhof's daughter Lidia embraced this philosophy and taught it alongside Esperanto and her adopted religion, the

Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion, essential worth of all religions and Baháʼí Faith and the unity of humanity, the unity of all people. Established by ...

. Despite his

language project, Zamenhof said of Homaranismo, "It is indeed the object of my whole life. I would give up everything for it."Edmond Privat, "The Life of Zamenhof", p 117. Zamenhof developed his ideas on Homaranismo in two works: ''Hilelismo'' (1901) and ''Homaranismo'' (1913).

External links

*
L.L. Zamenhof and the Shadow People
',

Esther Schor Esther is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther. In the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, is deposed for disobeying him. Hadassah, a Jewess who goes by the name of Esther, is chosen ...

, December 30, 2009,

The New Republic ''The New Republic'' is an American magazine of commentary on politics, contemporary culture, and the arts. Founded in 1914 by several leaders of the progressive movement, it attempted to find a balance between "a liberalism centered in hum ...

References

* Welger, Helmut: Kosmopoliti human (Homaranismo). Version 1999.
W. A. Macdonald, Humanitism: The Scientific Solution of the Social Problem, Trubner & Co., London, 1890
{{wikisourcelang, eo, Homaranismo 1913 introductions Jewish philosophical concepts Humanism

See also

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References