---
title: "Being good"
date: "2021-06-02T09:34:50+01:00"
modified: "2026-11-01T15:25:06+00:00"
url: "https://humanists.uk/humanism/humanist-values/being-good/"
post_id: 105649
---

# Being good

Humanists act with others in mind.

![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Being-Good.png?resize=874%2C733&ssl=1)

Treat others as you want to be treated
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Or rather, as they want to be treated. We’re all different so we use reason, empathy, and dialogue to discover the kindest way to act for others.



Humans are communal creatures
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Science has shown that we are intrinsically social, empathetic, altruistic, and understanding of concepts like justice and fairness.



We nurture goodness in ourselves and our community
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We know that humans are capable of cruelty too. But humanists look to create an environment which nurtures good in all of us.



We act morally because it’s good for everyone
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Not because we expect reward (like a place in heaven). We rely on reason and empathy to make decisions about what is good.



What is good can change
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We reflect on decisions, their consequences and new information – and listen to and discuss things with other people. We’re open to changing what we see as good.





> ‘Why should I consider others? Myself, I think the only possible answer is the humanist one – because we are naturally social beings; we live in communities; and life in any community, from the family outwards, is much happier, and fuller, and richer if the members are friendly and cooperative than if they are hostile and resentful.’
> 
> Margaret Knight

[![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/humanism-yt-right.webp?resize=766%2C431&ssl=1)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnDImejvj8)**Watch: How can I tell right from wrong?** A short film narrated by our patron Stephen Fry, from the That’s humanism! series.

[Play the film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnDImejvj8)





Other humanist values
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![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Thinking-Clearly-2-copy.png?resize=874%2C733&ssl=1)**Thinking clearly**

Humanists value rational, critical thinking.

[Read more](https://humanists.uk/humanism/humanist-values/thinking-clearly/)



![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Living-Well-copy.png?resize=874%2C733&ssl=1)**Living well**

This is the one life we have.

[Read more](https://humanists.uk/humanism/humanist-values/living-well/)





[All humanist values](https://humanists.uk/humanism/humanist-values/)

Where next?
-----------

**How humanist are you?**

Take our quick quiz and find out if ‘humanist’ describes the way you already approach life.

[Take the quiz →](https://humanists.uk/humanism/how-humanist-are-you/)