Korihor was a secular humanist, as was Nehor, his predecessor (see commentary on Alma 1:4). He believed that if success came it was because the individual had earned it. If progress was made it was because of hard work, consistent effort, and fulfillment of one’s goals.
The humanist focuses upon man: Man is the measure; all things rotate around man; man is the center of the universe; man has the power to solve his own problems, the power to make himself happy, the power to do anything he sets his mind to. Humanism points toward man’s genius, toward man’s strength, toward man’s works and accomplishments.
It is an anti-Christian philosophy and is thus false, devilish, and destructive. It draws man’s attention away from the one source which could bring liberation from this world’s woes and give satisfaction and happiness in the world to come. It deflects one’s vision away from Christ and away from that grace or enabling power which comes from him.