Corliss Lamont
Corliss Lamont: A Life of Activism and Advocacy
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Corliss Lamont was born April 9, 1902, and died August 5, 1995. His full name was Corliss Chauncey Lamont.
#### Birth and Death Dates
As mentioned earlier, Corliss Lamont was born on April 9, 1902, and passed away on August 5, 1995.
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
Corliss Lamont was an American philosopher, writer, educator, activist, and politician. He was known for his contributions to the fields of philosophy, ethics, and human rights.
#### Early Life and Background
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Corliss Lamont came from a family that valued education and social activism. His father, Thomas W. Lamont, was a banker and a diplomat who served as the American ambassador to the United Kingdom during World War I. Corliss's upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of social responsibility and a commitment to fighting for human rights.
#### Major Accomplishments
Corliss Lamont had a long and distinguished career marked by numerous achievements. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
He was a prominent figure in the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), serving as its national chairman from 1964 to 1975. During his tenure, he played a key role in defending freedom of speech, assembly, and association.
Lamont was also a vocal advocate for human rights, particularly in the areas of racial equality and social justice. He worked closely with prominent leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to promote civil rights and challenge discriminatory laws and policies.
In addition to his activism, Lamont was a prolific writer and published several books on philosophy, ethics, and politics. His works included "The Philosophy of Humanism" (1959), "You Too Can Be a Philosopher" (1963), and "Where Truth Leads: Twenty Years at the Crossroads of National Politics" (1987).
#### Notable Works or Actions
Corliss Lamont's work extended far beyond his books and activism. Some notable examples include:
In 1950, he helped organize the American Humanist Association, which aimed to promote humanism as a philosophy of life.
Lamont was also a vocal critic of McCarthyism and the Red Scare, speaking out against the persecution of individuals accused of being communists or having ties to communist organizations.
During the Civil Rights Movement, Lamont worked closely with prominent leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to promote nonviolent civil disobedience as a means of achieving social change.
#### Impact and Legacy
Corliss Lamont's impact on American society was significant, and his legacy continues to be felt today. He:
Helped shape the modern humanist movement by promoting a secular, human-centered approach to ethics and morality.
Fought tirelessly for civil rights and social justice, inspiring countless individuals to become involved in activism and advocacy work.
Through his writing and public speaking, Lamont educated millions of people about philosophy, ethics, and politics, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience.
#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Corliss Lamont is widely quoted and remembered for his commitment to human rights, social justice, and critical thinking. His:
Advocacy work on behalf of marginalized communities has inspired generations of activists and advocates.
Writing and public speaking have made complex ideas accessible to a broad audience, helping to educate people about the importance of ethics and morality in everyday life.
Legacy continues to shape American society, influencing contemporary debates around human rights, social justice, and critical thinking.
Quotes by Corliss Lamont
True freedom is the capacity for acting according to one’s true character, to be altogether one’s self, to be self-determined and not subject to outside coercion.
It makes no more sense to postulate a special brain-soul in order to account for the activities of the brain than to postulate a special stomach-soul in order to explain the functioning of the stomach or a special lung-soul to explain the phenomenon
Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy . . . translated into a life devoted to one's own improvement and the service of all mankind.
I think . . . that philosophy has the duty of pointing out the falsity of outworn religious ideas, however estimable they may be as a form of art. We cannot act as if all religion were poetry while the greater part of it still functions in its ancient guise of illicit science and backward morals. . . .
Humanism believes that the individual attains the good life by harmoniously combining personal satisfactions and continuous self-development with significant work and other activities that contribute to the welfare of the community.
For the Humanist, . . . head and heart . . . must function together. . . . The constitution of the Phillips Exeter Academy reads: 'Though goodness without knowledge . . . is weak and feeble, yet knowledge without goodness is dangerous. . . . Both united form the noblest character and lay the surest foundation of usefulness to mankind.'
God, once imagined to be an omnipresent force throughout the whole world of nature and man. has been increasingly tending to seem omniabsent. Everywhere, intelligent and educated people rely more and more on purely secular and scientific techniques for the solution of their problems. As science advances, belief in divine miracles and the efficacy of prayer becomes fainter and fainter.
Since Humanism as a functioning credo is so closely bound up with the methods of reason and science, plainly free speech and democracy are its very lifeblood. For reason and scientific method can flourish only in an atmosphere of civil liberties.
The wise man looks at death with honesty, dignity and calm, recognizing that the tragedy it brings is inherent in the great gift of life.
We do not ask to be born; and we do not ask to die. But born we are and die we must. We come into existence and we pass out of existence. And in neither case does high-handed fate await our ratification of its decree.