Susan Neiman
Susan Neiman
Philosopher, Historian, and Author
Full Name and Common Aliases
Susan Neiman was born in 1958 as Susanne Schäfer. She is commonly known by her married name, Susan Neiman.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: October 14, 1958 (age 64)
Nationality and Profession(s)
German-American philosopher, historian, and author. Neiman's work spans multiple disciplines, including philosophy, history, ethics, and politics.
Early Life and Background
Susan Neiman was born in Berlin, West Germany, to a family of Jewish refugees who had escaped Nazi persecution. Her parents, both intellectuals, instilled in her a love for learning and critical thinking from an early age. Neiman's childhood experiences shaped her perspective on the importance of human rights, justice, and morality.
Major Accomplishments
Neiman has achieved numerous distinctions throughout her career:
Professor at Yale University (1992-2008) and currently holds the position of Drew Professor in the Humanities at Princeton University.
Director of the Talpiot–Yovel Program for Jewish Thought at Tel Aviv University.
Recipient of various awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship.Notable Works or Actions
Neiman's work focuses on ethics, philosophy, and history. Some notable contributions include:
Her book "Smell's Aversion: On the Moral Psychology of Hate Speech", which explores the complexities of hate speech and its implications for society.
She has also written extensively on the subject of human rights, arguing that these rights are essential to a just and equitable society.Impact and Legacy
Susan Neiman's work has had a significant impact on various fields:
Her research on ethics and human rights has informed policy discussions globally.
As a professor, she has mentored numerous students who have gone on to make significant contributions in their respective fields.
Through her writing and public engagements, Neiman continues to inspire critical thinking and moral reflection.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Susan Neiman is widely quoted for her insightful commentary on ethics, human rights, and philosophy. Her ability to distill complex ideas into accessible language has made her a respected voice in both academic and public spheres.
Quotes by Susan Neiman
A defence of the Enlightenment is a defence of the modern world, along with all its possibilities for self-criticism and transformation. If you’re committed to Enlightenment, you’re committed to understanding the world in order to improve it.
Negotiating small differences is part of being a grownup; no one can tell you in advance where to put your foot down.
What the Enlightenment rejected in the South Sea islands was what it perceived as a stupor, the docile submission to whatever bit of the given is coming your way. And what’s coming your way is unlikely to be a breeze or a cow or a coconut, but a new kind of screen you can zap or click to create the illusion that life isn’t passing you by.
Tribalism will always make your world smaller; universalism is the only way to expand it.
Home is the normal – whatever place you happen to start from and return to without having to answer questions. It’s a metaphor that may seem to fit reduced expectations. We no longer seek towers that would reach to the heavens; we’ve abandoned attempts to prove that we live in a chain of being whose every link bears witness to the glory of God. We merely seek assurance that we find ourselves in a place where we know our way about.
Reason drives your search to make sense of the world by pushing you to ask why things are as they are. For theoretical reason, the outcome of that search becomes science; for practical reason, the outcome is a more just world.
The dangers of sophistry and scholasticism are present in the possibility of philosophy itself.