Who is noted as the founder of scientific humanism?

The figure recognized as the founder of scientific humanism is Sir Julian Huxley. He was an influential biologist and a prominent advocate for humanism in the 20th century, particularly in integrating the principles of science with a human-centered ethical perspective. Huxley believed that human values should be derived from scientific knowledge and a rational understanding of the world, rather than traditional religious or dogmatic frameworks.

His work promoted the idea that humans have the capacity to shape their destiny through scientific reasoning and secular ethics, which aligns with the broader movement of humanism that emphasizes human reason, ethics, and justice. Huxley's contributions laid the groundwork for the modern understanding of humanism, especially in its scientific form.

In contrast, the other individuals listed had notable contributions to science and philosophy, but they did not specifically establish scientific humanism as a distinct movement. Albert Einstein was a physicist known for his theories on relativity; Carl Sagan was an astronomer and science communicator famous for popularizing science and advocating for scientific literacy; and Charles Darwin is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, which has implications for human understanding but did not focus on the ethical or philosophical aspects characteristic of humanism.