Humanism is not tied to one specific political ideology but supports the development of an open democratic mentality. Democracy is not interpreted as majority dictatorship but as a social construct guaranteeing the self-determination of individuals and groups. It advocates a worldwide application of scientific methods to problems of human welfare. Humanists believe that the tremendous problems with which mankind is faced in this age of transition can be solved. Science gives the means, but science does not propose ends.
Science is a necessary but insufficient condition for humanism.
In the past many humanists assumed that education in itself guaranteed the development of an ethically responsible world. The assumption was that spreading knowledge meant spreading ethical awareness. The reality is that theocracy tended to be replaced by technocracy. Democracy is more than spreading information freely. It demands the concrete training of the capacity to give meaning and shape to life by respecting freedom of conscience.