ABSTRACT
As we mentioned in Chapter 1 of the current text, the one principle that unies the many diverse elements of humanism is the idea that humans are irreducible to other phenomena (Davidson, 2000). is means that humans can be understood only as whole beings. From a philosophical standpoint, the organizing principle of irreducibility logically leads to three supporting elements: (1) individualism; (2) a focus on subjective experience; and (3) an emphasis on the dignity of each person. In addition, we believe that it bears repeating that the term humanism applies to practices that highlight “relating to human beings in growth-producing ways” (Bohart, 2003, p. 107). Given that philosophical foundation as the basis for a common understanding of the denition of humanism, the current book has two primary purposes. First, it is intended to highlight humanistic principles inherent in current, eective approaches to counseling, education, and counselor training. Second, this book is intended to demonstrate the power of humanistic thinking for uniting diverse elements of practice in these areas.
