Happy Belated Birthday to John Stuart Mill!
Over two centuries have passed since the birth of one of the most influential contributors to the world of politics and philosophy. On May 20, 1806, John Stuart Mill was born, and so Philosophical Library would like to invite you to take a look back on the life of this English philosopher in honor of what would be his 210th birthday. Born in London, John was educated at home by his father, James Mill, who was an economist, historian and philosopher. James Mill’s goal was to raise his son to have an exceptional intellect, so the standards of his upbringing were quite high to the effect of learning Greek at age three and having read Aesop’s Fables by age eight. John was exposed to algebra as well as the works of Plato and could comprehend the dialogue at merely eight years old. He had been taught physics, history, astronomy, mathematics, Latin and poetry writing as well, having wrote his own continuation of Homer’s Iliad as one of his first pieces. John was intentionally kept from associating with children his own age, with the exception of his siblings. His father intended for John to carry on his views of utilitarianism and its execution after his passing.
“One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests.” – John Stuart Mill
John’s education continued as his adolescence wore on, having studied works of Aristotle, political economy, chemistry, and even zoology. By the age of twenty, John experienced a period of depression and wondered if what he had been striving for his whole life would play an actual part in making him happy. Upon reading the poetry of William Wordsworth, he gained a newfound sense of joy and once again set forth on the journey of creating of a just society. In his late adolescence, John Stuart Mill began work at the British East India Company and worked his way up the ladder.
“I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.” – John Stuart Mill
From 1865 to 1868, John held the position of Lord Rector at the University of St. Andrews while simultaneously sitting for the Liberal Party as a Member of Parliament. In fact, he was the first person in the history of Parliament to advocate for women having the right to vote and other social reforms. He remained dedicated to supporting individual freedom.
“A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.” – John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill produced many works that tackled the subjects of politics, religion, science, and economics. One of his noted works includes his book On Liberty, where John explores the relationship between freedom and authority and between citizens and the state. Keeping a foot in his upbringing, he applies the concept of utilitarianism to the philosophy of governance. Maintaining his belief in individual freedoms, John suggests that the liberties of individuals are becoming endangered by democracy, a concept that leans dangerously over the edge toward tyranny. The author suggests that our basic freedoms are negatively impacted by governmental intervention. Even though over a century has passed since its publication date, this title from John Stuart Mill is considered to have held its pertinence. A read set on the foundation of liberalism and maintaining its relevance, On Liberty can be read by anyone wishing to explore the views of noted philosopher John Stuart Mill. To read more about or purchase this title, please click here.
Oscar Wilde Meets André Gide
“I have put all my genius into my life; I have put only my talent into my art.”
—Oscar Wilde, quoted by André Gide in Oscar Wilde
“He was crucified by society and the, through that crucifixion, became immortal. The fall, I think, is an artistic statement of its own.”
—Rupert Everett, currently appearing in David Hare’s The Judas Kiss,
quoted by Michael Schulman in The New Yorker
Future Nobel Prize laureate André Gide (1869-1951) first encountered Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) near the height of the Irish poet, dramatist, and raconteur’s fame. “His success was so certain that it seemed that it preceded Wilde and that all he had to do was go forward to meet it.” They saw each other again three years later, in Algeria, when a world-weary Wilde predicted that “Something must happen . . .” A year later, of course, Wilde met not with success but with the opprobrium of society after he was convicted of “gross indecency” and sentenced to two years’ hard labor in Reading Gaol.
Upon his release, Wilde fled to Europe under an assumed name. But he is clearly still Wilde, Gide at first thinks, “the same worn look, the same amused laugh, the same voice.” Yet, as Gide generously allows Wilde to speak, it becomes clear how his imprisonment has changed the man. In one literary genius’s personal memories of another, we are granted the chance to see the talent and the genius; and begin to understand how and why these two great men came to be enduring icons of LGBTQ culture and light posts on the road to society’s recognition.
Oscar Wilde’s talent is fully on display in The Wisdom of Oscar Wilde, a volume containing a thorough sampling of his written work. Part one is a thematically organized selection of his wittiest, most quotable lines (“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about”). Part two consist of excerpts from his early poetry, literary appreciations (e.g., W.B. Yeats’s first book of poems, the novels of Dostoevsky) and excerpts from his fairy tales and other prose (e.g., a section from The Picture of Dorian Gray as well as Wilde’s rejoinder to a morally indignant response by the press, Finally, here is “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” (“And all men kill the thing they love”) and an excerpt from the posthumously published De Profundis.
June is designated LGBTQ History Month, something that neither Oscar Wilde nor Andre Gide could have imagined. Wilde died a full three generations or more before the Stonewall uprising; Gide was born a hundred years before the event. Yet their contribution to the ultimate acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender people is immeasurable, and the historical line is clear. And, clearly, there is no real need for a “designated” period to gain wisdom and inside, and be entertained by Books of Lasting Value.
RE: At the Existentialist Café to New York Times
To the Editor:
Edward Mendelson’s review of “At the Existentialist Café” (April 17) allows me to express my great pleasure at the reception for Sarah Bakewell’s wonderful book.
My father, Dagobert D. Runes, who founded Philosophical Library in 1941, was instrumental in, if not the essential force behind, bringing the key texts of French existentialism to the English-speaking world. In September 1946, he and Gaston Gallimard agreed that Philosophical Library would have exclusive English translation rights to “Being and Nothingness.” The exigencies of the postwar years delayed their signing the final contract until November 1947, and because of the book’s complexity, as well as, apparently, Sartre’s involvement, the English-language edition did not appear for a number of years.
Philosophical Library also released Simone de Beauvoir’s eloquent defense of existentialism against charges of nihilism and amorality, “The Ethics of Ambiguity,” in addition to several other books by Sartre. Runes also issued two volumes by Sartre’s contemporary Martin Heidegger: “Essays in Metaphysics” comprised two late lectures; “German Existentialism” collected statements with which Heidegger irrefutably indicted himself as a willing supporter of National Socialism.
Clearly, the vision of émigré publishers like my father, Jacques and André Schiffrin, Kurt Enoch and George Weidenfeld is an essential legacy.
REGEEN RUNES KIERNAN-NAJAR
NEW YORK TIMES
The writer is publisher of the Philosophical Library.
A look back on the life of accomplished author, Bertrand Russell
On this day in 1872, noted British philosopher, activist, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell was born. Here at Philosophical Library, we are taking a look back on the life of this accomplished author in honor of his 144th birthday. Born in the United Kingdom on May 18, 1872, Bertrand was raised in a progressive, aristocratic household. His parents, perhaps being ahead of their generation, were quite liberal when it came to social norms, engaging in permissible affairs and advocating birth control which, at the time, was deemed unseemly.
His father did not uphold religious beliefs, and so appointed philosopher and liberal thinker John Stuart Mill as his son’s secular godfather. After the death of his parents and sister, a still young Bertrand and his older brother were adopted by their grandparents who held more conservative views than they had been raised to believe; yet, this would leave a life-long impact on Bertrand. Bertrand’s education was handled at home by tutors and he held an interest in the areas of religion and mathematics, though he grew quite lonely in his adolescent years. He spent many hours reading works of Euclid and Percy Bysshe Shelley which influenced him greatly. At eighteen years old, Bertrand read the autobiography of his godfather, John Stuart Mill, and declared himself an atheist.
“I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.” – Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell began studying at the Trinity College of Cambridge in 1890 where he focused on mathematics and philosophy. He married in 1894 only to end the marriage twenty-seven years later. During his marriage he began his early career by publishing German Social Democracy and teaching the subject at the London School of Economics. Bertrand would spend his lifetime holding an interest in politics. Maintaining his interest in the area of mathematics, he also wrote on the subject in his essay titled An Essay on the Foundations of Geometry. He became a lecturer at the University of Cambridge in 1910 and had a great influence on one of his students in particular, whom would later earn a PhD and publish works of his own with the help of Bertrand.
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” – Bertrand Russell
Bertrand’s political interest went beyond his publications. He acted on his beliefs rather than merely writing about them. This would lead to a series of events including being part of an anti-war socialist group. After a public display of speaking against the war, Bertrand was sent to prison for six months. He would continue to participate in other political causes throughout his life.
“War does not determine who is right – only who is left.” – Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell published many works throughout his life. His title Dictionary of Mind, Matter and Morals serves as an introduction to the fundamental principles and ideas held by the author. Within these pages, the reader will find definitions and terms selected from over one hundred of Bertrand’s books and articles. More works from Bertrand include The Art of Philosophizing which includes published essays written during WWII. Here, Bertrand expresses his views on philosophical issues and goes into depth with his on analysis on mathematics, logic and philosophy. Perhaps another title meant for the reader seeking to read more on the philosophies of Bertrand Russell is Essays on Skepticism where he shares some of his remarkable observations and thoughts. Included in this collection are Envy and Belief, What Social Science Can Do, Intellectual Rubbish, On Being Old, Don’t Be Too Certain, and many more. To learn more about or purchase these titles, please click here.
We are celebrating the 158th birthday of theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Max Planck
Here at Philosophical Library, we are celebrating the 158th birthday of theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Max Planck. Arriving into the world on April 23, 1858, Planck was born into an intellectual family who maintained careers practicing law as well as careers as professors of theology. Growing up, Planck studied astronomy, mechanics and mathematics which would lead to his understanding of the conservation of energy. Though musically inclined and having talent in playing the piano, organ and cello, his focus narrowed on physics while attending the University of Munich.
By 1877, Planck was enrolled in the Friedrich Wilhelms University in Berlin and spent the next year studying with noted physicists and mathematicians. It was here that he chose heat theory as his field of study. Upon completion of his habilitation thesis, Equilibrium States of Isotropic Bodies at Different Temperatures, he gave private lectures to individuals in Munich while waiting for an academic position. Years later in 1885, Planck was offered a position as associate professor of theoretical physics at the University of Kiel where he continued his work on entropy in physical chemistry. He went on to publish Treatise on Thermodynamics. Planck became a full-time professor at the university in 1892 and years later, in 1909, traveled to New York City to lecture on theoretical physics at Columbia University.
“Scientific discovery and scientific knowledge have been achieved only by those who have gone in pursuit of it without any practical purpose whatsoever in view.” – Max Planck
Max Planck dedicated years of his life to studying, hypothesizing and making conclusions in the world of science. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918 for his contributions to quantum theory, which transformed the way we understand atomic and subatomic processes. He continued to explore and write about physics and philosophy for the remainder of his life. Published after his death in 1947, Max Planck’s autobiography titled Scientific Autobiography shares the story of his life, his goals, and his thoughts and ideas. Planck intended for this work to be comprehensible to the general audience, and so he wrote the story of his life and scientific theories in a style the average reader would be able to process. Within these pages, Planck includes not only his scientific theories, but his thoughts on ethics, morals and his philosophical ideas as well. For any reader wishing to learn more about this accomplished physicist, Philosophical Library invites you to click here to obtain this title and begin or broaden your journey through the life of Max Planck.
“It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to him.” – Max Planck
Wishing Immanuel Kant a Happy 292nd Birthday
It has been almost three centuries since his birth, and today Philosophical Library is celebrating the 292nd birthday of philosopher Immanuel Kant. Born on April 22, 1724, Kant was raised in a strict, religious household where the core of his upbringing centered on literal interpretations of the Bible; however, skepticism would later hover over his religious beliefs. Kant’s education revolved mostly around religious studies, and he went on to study philosophy at the University of Konigsberg where he was introduced to Isaac Newton’s mathematical physics. Though his father’s death in 1748 would temporarily tear him from his studies, he published his first philosophical work titled Thoughts on the True Estimation of Living Forces a year later.
Immanuel Kant is known for his contribution in the philosophies of metaphysics and ethics, though a light shines brightly on an astronomical discovery he uncovered regarding the Earth’s rotation. Kant concluded that the frictional resistance against ocean currents affects the planet’s speed of rotation which, up until his finding, had gone unnoticed by astronomers and mathematicians. Though Kant had a strong foundation in philosophy, he kept one foot in the realm of science and would continue to write on the topic for the remainder of his life. He wrote of his hypothesis that the Solar System formed from a large cloud of gas and found that the Milky Way was composed of a large group of stars. Such conclusions and hypotheses opened doors to new possibilities for astronomers, stretching a focus beyond our own solar system.
“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” – Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant went on to become a noted scholar and publisher of many philosophical works. One of his most influential pieces is titled The Critique of Pure Reason where he explores what can be known by reason alone without having evidence gained from experience. Kant maintains that there are two types of knowledge. One is obtained through the senses and the other is a self-evident truth understood without having prior experience. Continuing his discussion on the topic, he goes on to examine the relationship between these two types of knowledge and concludes that we are capable of finding universal truth through reason.
“All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.” – Immanuel Kant
Perhaps more accessible than his other works, Immanuel Kant is the author of another thoughtful text titled Introduction to Logic where he explains his views and conclusions on logic, aesthetics and moral reasoning. A more comprehendible read, Kant’s Introduction to Logic provides a clear explanation of his philosophical beliefs, appealing to anyone just beginning to explore the philosophies of this influential scholar. Immanuel Kant’s contributions to the world of science and philosophy have been continuously studied and respected for more than a century. For anyone looking to learn more about or purchase these titles, please click here.
Celebrating René Descartes on his 420th Birthday!
Today, Philosophical Library would like to take a moment to celebrate the father of modern western philosophy René Descartes on his 420th birthday. Descartes was born in France on March 31, 1596 and was raised by his father, grandmother, great-uncle. He attended the Jesuit College Royal Henry-Le-Grand in 1607 where he studied mathematics and physics, including work by Galileo. He graduated in 1614 and continued to pursue his education at the University of Poitiers and, in an effort to fulfill his father’s wish that he become a lawyer, he earned a degree in Canon and Civil Law.
Descartes had ambitions other than practicing law. In 1618, he became a professional military officer and joined the Dutch States Army where he took the opportunity to study military engineering, believing it necessary to create a method that thoroughly linked mathematics and physics.
A year later while stationed in Neuburg an der Donau, Descartes claimed to have experienced three visions of a divine spirit revealing to him a new philosophy. Afterward, he had formulated analytical geometry and the idea that mathematical methods can be applied to philosophy. He believed that all truths were linked together and that if you could unlock one truth, other truths would be revealed. Descartes came to the conclusion that, because he thinks, he exists.
“I think, therefore I am.”
René Descartes spent many years traveling through Europe, interacting with people from all stations in life including nobles, soldiers and laborers. In doing so, his experiences led him to form his greatest work titled Discourse On Method. Here, Descartes offers a new approach in gaining knowledge based on reason and skepticism and explores the deconstruction of once deeply regarded beliefs to the rebuilding of the most basic truth: “I think, therefore I am.” To read more about this work by René Descartes, please click here.
Happy Birthday Albert Einstein!
Philosophical Library would like to wish a happy birthday to world-renowned theoretical physicist Albert Einstein! He was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany.
In 1895, at the age of 16, Einstein sat in the entrance examinations for the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zürich. He failed to reach the required standard in the general part of the examination, but obtained exceptional grades in physics and mathematics. On the advice of the principal of the Polytechnic, he attended the Argovian cantonal school (gymnasium) in Aarau, Switzerland from 1895 to 1896 to complete his secondary schooling. While lodging with the family of Professor Jost Winteler, he fell in love with Winteler’s daughter, Marie. In January 1896, with his father’s approval, Einstein renounced his citizenship in the German Kingdom of Württemberg to avoid military service. In September 1896, he passed the Swiss Matura with mostly good grades, including a top grade of 6 in physics and mathematical subjects. Though only 17, he enrolled in the four-year mathematics and physics teaching diploma program at the Zürich Polytechnic.
“When forced to summarize the general theory of relativity in one sentence: Time and space and graviton have no separate existence from matter.”
Near the beginning of his career, Einstein thought that Newtonian mechanics was no longer enough to reconcile the laws of classical mechanics with the laws of the electromagnetic field. This led to the development of his special theory of relativity. He realized, however, that the principle of relativity could also be extended to gravitational fields, and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916, he published a paper on general relativity. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light which laid the foundation of the photon theory of light. In 1917, Einstein applied the general theory of relativity to model the large-scale structure of the universe.
“When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That’s relativity”
On February 11, 2016 a team of scientists announced that they had heard and recorded the sound of two black holes colliding a billion light-years away, a fleeting chirp that fulfilled the last prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
That faint rising tone, physicists say, is the first direct evidence of gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space-time that Einstein predicted a century ago. (Listen to it here.) It completes his vision of a universe in which space and time are interwoven and dynamic, able to stretch, shrink and jiggle. And it is a ringing confirmation of the nature of black holes, the bottomless gravitational pits from which not even light can escape, which were the most foreboding (and unwelcome) part of his theory.
“In order to succeed your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”
Einstein was also known for is commentary on civil rights, humanism, and his support of socialism. You can read more about his views in the book Essays in Humanism. Within its pages, Einstein shares his views on a rapidly changing world, Nuclear proliferation, Zionism, and the global economy; though, these are just a few of the insightful and surprisingly prescient topics the scientist discussed in this volume of collected essays that span the years of 1931 through 1950. Whether you are a well-read Einstein enthusiast or are just beginning, Albert Einstein’s Essays in Humanism is sure to make an invaluable addition to your collection.
René Leibowitz is 103 Today!
Philosophical Library would like to wish a happy 103rd birthday to René Leibowitz. Born on February 17, 1913 in Warsaw, Poland, Leibowitz is well-known for his contributions as a composer, conductor, theorist and educator. His passion for music began at a young age as he studied the violin and composed his own music at eight years old. He participated in violin recitals in his home town as well as Prague, Vienna and Berlin. Leibowitz went on to study composition and orchestration in Paris. He later began teaching and was viewed as highly influential as an educator as he taught many of France’s most promising composers. He was also able to complete many recordings as a conductor, including recordings for Reader’s Digest.
René Leibowitz received praise for his published piece Schoenberg and his School which shared his theoretical views on Schoenberg’s compositions. Within these pages, Leibowitz examines the music of Schoenberg and relates his pieces to Western polyphony along with discussing the major works of Alban Berg and Anton Webern. Toward the end of the book, Leibowitz provides hints for the future of music if the traditions these three composers continue on through today’s young musicians. To learn more about and purchase this title, please click here.
Philosophical Library would like to wish a happy 155th to Alfred North Whitehead
Today, Philosophical Library would like to wish a happy 155th birthday to noted philosopher and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead. Born in England on February 15, 1961, Alfred began his academic career at one of the top public schools in his country, Sherborne. At Sherborne School, he displayed a talent for sports and mathematics. Years later in 1880, he attended Trinity College in Cambridge where his aptitude for math flourished. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and went on to teach mathematics and physics until 1910 at the very college he studied as a student. After serving his position at Trinity College, Alfred accepted a position as a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Imperial College of London. There, he took on many administrative roles until his departure for the United States in 1924.
As his time in England came to an end, Alfred began turning his interest over to philosophy and published his own work on the subject. After serving as president of the Aristotelian Society, he was asked to take the position as a Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University where he would go on to teach and publish some of his most noted philosophical writings.
Alfred North Whitehead is known for his contributions to mathematics and philosophy. A collection of his writings has been compiled into his book Science and Philosophy where he shares his views on the topics of philosophy, education and science. His stance on these subjects are covered in depth as well as his own personal reflections which can be read within the pages of the first three chapters. To learn more about and purchase this title, please click here.