humanismissa

Humanismissa is a Finnish grammatical form meaning “in humanism.” It is the inessive case of the noun humanismi (humanism) and is formed by adding the suffix -ssa (or -ssä after vowels). In Finnish, humanismissa is used to place discussion or action within the framework of humanism, or to describe involvement with humanist thought, organizations, or activities. The word itself is not a separate doctrine; rather, it marks a location or state relative to the broader concept of humanism.

Humanism is a broad philosophy and ethical stance that emphasizes human value, agency, and rational inquiry. Core ideas often include the dignity of all people, the importance of empirical evidence, critical thinking, and ethical frameworks based on human welfare rather than supernatural authority. Variants range from secular humanism, which expressly excludes religious premises, to religious or cultural forms of humanism that integrate humanist ethics with faith traditions. Common themes include human rights, democracy, education, and compassion.

In Finnish contexts, discussions framed by humanismissa typically relate to secular or human-centered approaches to ethics, education, and public life. Finland has active secular and humanist organizations that promote life-stance rights, critical thinking, and non-religious ceremonies such as weddings or memorials, reflecting the broader European tradition of organized humanism. As with other languages, the term helps distinguish discourse about the humanist tradition from other ethical or religious frameworks.