The Hero in History: Study in Limitation and Possibility - Softcover

Hook, Sidney

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1605203742 ISBN 13: 9781605203744

Publisher: Cosimo Inc, 2008

Synopsis

Considered by some the most controversial American philosopher of contemporary times, SIDNEY HOOK (1902-1989) was infamous for the wild swing in his political thought over the course of his career, starting out as a young Marxist before the Great Depression and ending up a vehement anti-Communist in his later years. Hook's conception of history and the individual's impact upon it is the subject of this intriguing work, first published in 1943. Subtitled A Study in Limitation and Possibility, it examines the concept of the "hero" as it relates to leadership in the modern world, the hero as a child of crisis, how the character of rulers affects society, how history swings on the contingent and the unforeseen, and much more. With sections on the Russian revolution and the influence of the hero on democracy, this unexpectedly entertaining book is an enthralling look at the theories that shaped Hook's thought and guided his changes in political alliance.

About this title

About the Author:

Sidney Hook, who died in 1989, was senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He was long identified with the development of the philosophy department of New York University. He is well known for his writings on epistomology, ethics, Marxism, pragmatism, and educational theory.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cosimo Inc
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1605203742
• ISBN 13: 9781605203744
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 273