What does a humanist feel when they gaze up at the stars? In this episode, George Miller speaks to philosopher Richard Norman, author of What Is Humanism For?, about wonder, meaning and morality in a world without God.
Their conversation traces Norman’s intellectual journey, from religious upbringing to secular commitment, and explores how humanism answers some of life’s deepest questions — not through divine revelation, but through shared human experience.
Along the way, they consider humanist funerals, climate change, artificial intelligence and how a humanist might still feel awe in a godless universe:
‘The awe comes from our sense of both our insignificance when confronted with the vastness of the universe — and our connection with it. A sense that we are part of this magnificent universe.’
Richard Norman, BA (Cantab), PhD (London), is a British academic, philosopher and humanist. He is Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Kent, where he spent most of his career, and a patron of Humanists UK.
Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-humanism-for
The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/05/30/podcast-a-humanist-looks-at-the-night-sky/
Timestamps:
00:58 - What feelings and thoughts does it provoke in a humanist when they look up on a starry night?
08:22 - Did you have a religious upbringing?
17:13 - When does it become possible to begin to put forward ideas which seriously question Christianity?
22:55 - What provides the ethical foundations for humanism?
26:48 - How does that basic foundation then begin to help us with the purpose?
32:15 - How does a humanist funeral work?
34:59 - Does putting the human at the centre lead to things like climate change?
41:05 - What do humanists think about this possible brave new world where we're no longer the most rational creature on the planet?
44:14 - What should you do next if you're still curious?
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
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Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
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