Mortimer Adler
Mortimer Adler: A Philosopher's Quest for Wisdom
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Mortimer Jerome Adler was an American philosopher, educator, and popular author known for his contributions to philosophy, pedagogy, and cultural renewal.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on December 28, 1902, in New York City, Mortimer Adler passed away on January 16, 2001, at the age of 98.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Adler was an American by birth and a philosopher, educator, and author by profession. He held various positions throughout his career, including Director of the Institute for Philosophical Research, editor of _The Great Books of the Western World_, and president of the Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation.
Early Life and Background
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Adler's interest in philosophy began at an early age. Growing up in a Jewish family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, he was exposed to the ideas of classical philosophers like Plato and Aristotle through his father's library. Adler's love for learning led him to study at the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1923. He later pursued his Master's degree at CCNY and then continued his studies at Columbia University, earning a Doctoral degree in philosophy in 1927.
Major Accomplishments
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Adler's contributions to philosophy are vast and varied. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
The Great Books of the Western World: Adler was instrumental in developing this comprehensive anthology, which aimed to introduce readers to the greatest works of literature from ancient Greece to modern times.
The Paideia Program: This innovative educational program, developed by Adler and his colleagues, emphasized a liberal arts education that integrated history, literature, science, and philosophy into a cohesive curriculum.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Adler's notable works include:
How to Read a Book (1940): A seminal work on effective reading strategies that has become a classic in its own right.
The Story of Philosophy (1938): A comprehensive introduction to the history of philosophy, which explores the lives and ideas of influential thinkers from ancient times to the present day.
Impact and Legacy
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Adler's impact on education, culture, and society is immeasurable. His dedication to making complex philosophical ideas accessible to a broad audience has inspired generations of readers and scholars. Through his work, Adler aimed to promote critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Adler's quotes and writings are widely quoted because they offer insightful commentary on the importance of education, the value of critical thinking, and the need for individuals to engage with timeless wisdom. His emphasis on the role of philosophy in shaping a better world continues to resonate with readers today.
In conclusion, Mortimer Adler was a philosopher-educator who dedicated his life to exploring the depths of human knowledge and promoting intellectual growth. Through his groundbreaking works, he has left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and educate us all.
Quotes by Mortimer Adler
Mortimer Adler's insights on:
....a good book can teach you about the world and about yourself. You learn more than how to read better; you also learn more about life. You become wiser. Not just more knowledgeable - books that provide nothing but information can produce that result. But wiser, in the sense that you are more deeply aware of the great and enduring truths of human life.
More consequences for thought and action follow the affirmation or denial of God than from answering any other basic question.
Political democracy cannot flourish under all economic conditions. Democracy requires an economic system which supports the political ideals of liberty and equality for all. Men cannot exercise freedom in the political sphere when they are deprived of it in the economic sphere.
I suspect that most of the individuals who have religious faith are content with blind faith. They feel no obligation to understand what they believe. They may even wish not to have their beliefs disturbed by thought. But if God in whom they believe created them with intellectual and rational powers, that imposes upon them the duty to try to understand the creed of their religion. Not to do so is to verge on superstition.
The ability to retain a child's view of the world with at the same time a mature understanding of what it means to retain it, is extremely rare - and a person who has these qualities is likely to be able to contribute something really important to our thinking.
Work that is pure toil, done solely for the sake of the money it earns, is also sheer drudgery because it is stultifying rather than self improving.
In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.
To agree without understanding is inane. To disagree without understanding is impudent.
There is no more irritating fellow than the man who tries to settle an argument about communism, or justice, or liberty, by quoting from Webster.