Sidney Hook
Sidney Hook
Sidney Hookwas an American philosopher of the Pragmatist school known for his contributions to the philosophy of history, the philosophy of education, political theory, and ethics. After embracing Communism in his youth, Hook was later known for his criticisms of fascism and Marxism–Leninism. A pragmatic social democrat, Hook sometimes cooperated with conservatives, particularly in opposing Communism. After World War II, he argued that members of such groups as the Communist Party USA and other Leninist conspiracies could ethically be barred...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth20 December 1902
CountryUnited States of America
It still remains true that as a set of cognitive beliefs about the existence of God in any recognizable sense continuous with the great systems of the past, religious doctrines constitute a speculative hypothesis of an extremely low order of probabil
Where an intelligent grasp of principles requires a knowledge of mathematics, its fundamental ideas should be presented in such a way that students carry away the sense of mathematics not only as a tool for the solution of problems but as a study of types of order, system, and language.
Tolerance always has limits - it cannot tolerate what is itself actively intolerant.
Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system.
To silence criticism is to silence freedom.
The easiest rationalization for the refusal to seek the truth is the denial that truth exists.
I was guilty of judging capitalism by its operations and socialism by its hopes and aspirations; capitalism by its works and socialism by its literature.
The difference between science and religion is that the former wishes to get rid of mysteries whereas the latter worships them.
To serve the public interest is not the same as being a servant of public opinion.
Students rarely disappoint teachers who assure them in advance that they are doomed to failure.
Fear of death has been the greatest ally of tyranny past and present.
In contrast to totalitarianism, democracy can face and live with the truth about itself.
Nonetheless, it still remains true that as a set of cognitive beliefs, religious doctrines constitute a speculative hypothesis of an extremely low order of probability.
Wisdom is an affair of values, and of value judgments. It is intelligent conduct of human affairs.