The rediscovery of Aristotle, a renewed interest in the arts, the spirit of exploration, improvements in farming techniques, and the decline of the feudal system brought mankind a surge of confidence. We have witnessed a revival of man's belief in man during the past quarter of a century. The 1960s were years of great accomplishments. Diseases like polio were conquered, and we landed a man on the moon. Humanism rests on the conviction that man's intellect as he uses the scientific method can bring solutions to all his problems and answers to all his questions.
Man needs no outside help.
He has in himself all the resources he needs. Moreover, humanism says that things will continue to get better and better. Some kind of cosmic force which lies behind evolution guarantees continued progress. Humanistic futurists focus on the year 2000 as the year we will enter a millennial-like state. However, along with the great triumphs of man come terrible suffering and grievous injustice.