S01E15 - Secular Ethics in Times of Crisis: On the Tacit Radicalism of the Humanist Manifestos I–III (1933, 1973, 2003)

This essay by Florian Zappe explores the evolution of secular ethics through the lens of the three Humanist Manifestos published between 1933 and 2003. Zappe argues that these documents function as strategic activist interventions designed to shift moral authority from divine origins to human agency. By examining them as a specific literary genre, he demonstrates how each text responded to unique historical crises, such as the Great Depression and the rise of religious nationalism. The author identifies a "tacit radicalism" in these works, noting that they challenge the theological foundations of American public life while maintaining a moderate tone. Ultimately, the source frames humanism not as a static doctrine, but as an adaptive project seeking to establish universal values within a purely secular framework.(Citation: Zappe, Florian. 2026. “Secular Ethics in Times of Crisis: On the Tacit Radicalism of the Humanist Manifestos I–III (1933, 1973, 2003).” New American Studies Journal 78. doi:10.18422/78-2695.)