Sidney Hook

Sidney Hook (December 20 1902–July 12 1989 in Stanford) was a prominent American philosopher who championed pragmatism.

Related Topics:
December 20 - 1902 - July 12 - 1989 - Stanford - Philosopher - Pragmatism

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Hook was born in New York to Jennie and Issac Hook. He earned his Bachelor's degree at the City College of New York in 1923, then his Master's and Ph.D. at Columbia University in 1927, where he was a student of John Dewey. Upon finishing his studies he was hired by New York University until his retirement in 1972. From 1948 to 1969 he was head of the department of philosophy, during which time he founded the New York University Institute of Philosophy.

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New York - Bachelor's degree - 1923 - Master's - Ph.D. - Columbia University - 1927 - John Dewey - New York University - 1972 - 1948 - 1969 - New York University Institute of Philosophy

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At the beginning of his career, Hook achieved prominence as an expert on Karl Marx's philosophy and was himself a Marxist. He visited Moscow in the late 1920s and wrote enthusiastically about the Soviet Union. In 1932 he supported the Communist Party's William Z. Foster when he ran for President of the United States. However, he became critical of Stalin in the 1930s accusing him of prioritizing "the needs of the Russian state" over the needs of the international revolution.http://www.mises.org/misesreview_detail.asp?control=86&sortorder=issue He broke completely with the Communist Party and Stalin over the Great Purge supporting Leon Trotsky's efforts to clear his name in a special Commission of Inquiry led by Dewey, which investigated Stalinist charges against him made during the Moscow Trials. Hook was never a Trotskyite however, and during the Cold War he became a leading anti-Communist though he continued to consider himself a democratic socialist throughout his life. He believed that freedom of the press is not absolute and must yield on occasion to the nation's national security needs or to the rights of individuals.

Related Topics:
Karl Marx - Marxist - Moscow - 1920 - Soviet Union - 1932 - Communist Party - William Z. Foster - President of the United States - Stalin - 1930s - Great Purge - Leon Trotsky - Moscow Trials - Trotskyite - Cold War - Anti-Communist - Democratic socialist

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On May 23 1985 Hook was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.

Related Topics:
May 23 - 1985 - Presidential Medal of Freedom - Ronald Reagan

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