Sidney Hook on Pragmatism, Democracy and Freedom: The Essential Essays

by Sidney Hook, Robert B. Talisse (Editor), Robert Tempio (Editor)

Twenty-five of Hook's most incisive essays in political philosophy discuss pragmatism and naturalism, Marx and Marxism, Democratic theory and practice, and the defense of a free society.

Genres: Philosophy, Essays

420 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Sidney Hook was an American pragmatic philosopher known for his contributions to public debates. A student of John Dewey, Hook continued to examine the philosophy of history, of education, politics, and of ethics. He was known for his criticisms of totalitarianism (fascism and Marxism–Leninism). A pragmatic social democrat, Hook sometimes cooperated with conservatives, particularly in opposing communism. After WWII, he argued that members of conspiracies, like the Communist Party USA and other Leninist conspiracies, ethically could be barred from holding offices of public trust.