Arnold Fishman

From Philosopedia

Fishman, Arnold Norman (3 February 1939 - )

Fishman is the son of Herman and Esther (nee Bratman) Fishman. Along with an older sister, Ronnie, he was raised and attended public schools in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, then earned a Baccalaureate from Temple University and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University.

In Southern New Jersey, Fishman has been engaged in the general practice of law, primarily as a litigator since his admission to the Bar in 1965. He lives with his wife, the former Temma Wolf, in an old log cabin on a lake in the Pine Barrens of rural Burlington County New Jersey. They have a daughter, Cindy, a scientist; a son, Craig, Arnold’s law partner; and a granddaughter, Zoey.

Fishman's connection with Humanism is primarily through Ethical Culture. He was President of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia from 2000 – 2004 and the American Ethical Union (AEU), its national organization, from 2004 – 2008. He served on the Board of Directors of each for many years. He represented the AEU at Heads Conferences, Secular Coalition for America meetings, and before the General Assembly of the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

He has written,

• I define my life-stance with these three principles: the universe and our place in it can be explained scientifically – not supernaturally; morals and ethics are man made and culturally derived – not revealed; and life has the meaning and the purpose that we give to it - without resorting to any god. To those who suggest that Humanists lack faith by asserting that, “It is easier to believe in God for which there is no evidence, than it is to believe in humanity for which there is an abundance of evidence – and much of it bad." I respond that in spite of that evidence, Ethical Culture teaches us that we have the capacity and the responsibility to act in our personal lives, and in the larger community, to help create a better world.

• Ethical Humanism is perfectly positioned as the Humanistic alternative to traditional religion, and as the religious alternative to secular Humanism.