ABSTRACT
Critiques of humanism explain that the concept of ‘human nature’ has been used to define a norm against which ‘others’ are found wanting. An alternative is sought in post-humanism. In fact, humanism does not have to mean the kind of doctrine that post-humanists reject. Humanism can also be understood in relation to sociological accounts. It is generally believed that sociology has no need of the concept of human nature. While this view is built into the foundations of the discipline, it does not fit what sociologists actually do.
