Secular Humility

Abstract

If there is no God, should we be humble? If so, what form should our humility take? Here I describe a character trait that (a) merits the title secular humility, (b) is a virtue, (c) has some important similarities with humility as understood in the Christian tradition, and (d) requires neither belief in anything like the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam nor the existence of such a deity. After describing secular humility and making the case that it is a virtue, I explain how a person can possess secular humility while at the same time possessing a high degree of self-confidence and achievement. I then address two worries about secular humility: first, a Nietzsche-inspired worry that secular humility is in tension with creativity, and second, the worry that secular humility is an obstacle to overcoming oppression and exploitation.