This text problematizes the survival of the humanist idea, which is presented in a historical perspective, in relation to the contemporary problem of refugees, i.e. refugee crises. Humanism is placed in relation to the categories with which it co-exists in modern society, namely the nation and capitalism as a value system. In the next step this text offers an overview of the issue of refugee crises, including the question of how certain social trends have conditioned their emergence. The notions of justice, equality and solidarity in a market-oriented society are questioned. From the perspective of several philosophers, the situation in society is observed with a special emphasis on the poor, oppressed and foreigners. Refugees are characterized by all these determinants. The notion of the human, which is important for the consideration of this issue, is trying to be defined as a universal category with a warning about the danger of particularization by privileged social groups. The need to establish a humanist ideal on the scent of Kant’s categorical imperative is emphasized. Polarizing and excluding the other as less valuable is a practice that has existed for centuries. However, a consistent humanist and universalist ethics continually seeks to eradicate such practices and provides a basis for establishing the foundations on which a more just society could be built.