Humanistic biology

Humanistic biology suggests that, rather than studying "statistically average" samples of the population, it is more useful to study the ablest individuals in the particular attribute being considered. This is far more likely to indicate the best that the human race is capable of achieving. To the criticism that such judgements as "best" are not capable of being made objectively, it replies that such judgements are in fact made all the time in research, whether or not the researcher is aware of it; and demonstrates that it is possible to discover the intrinsic values of human beings. Rather than the value-free approach to those sciences which involve human problems, humanistic biology starts from the premise that values exist in reality, that there is such a thing as a "good" society (that which fosters the fullest degree of humanness and the fullest development of human potential); and that, for example, self-actualizing people are better able than others to distinguish right from wrong.

It is postulated that since the human race is now capable of being responsible for its own evolution, a taoist (loving) objectivity is more likely to bring the best decisions than classical (non-caring) objectivity. Given a person's intrinsic goodness or badness, society could be organized to favour the good behaviour naturally manifesting. Emphasis would be on improving the means by which a desirable end is reached rather than the end itself. A society where basic-need satisfactions are lost will produce more physically as well as mentally sick individuals and is less likely to achieve the aims it sets itself.