An A-to-Z collection of thoughtful aphorisms and ruminations by the philosopher and founder of the Philosophical Library. In this unique dictionary, philosopher Dagobert D. Runes attempts to define the contours of human thinking and morality. In a series of terms organized alphabetically, Runes systematically sets out his own musings on topics ranging from Abhorrence and Ability to Zeal, Zen, and Zero. Each word is followed by up to several single-sentence aphorisms and occasionally a short essay. In his search for real verities and true humanity, Runes takes the reader on a thought-provoking voyage through the depths of the human mind. This is philosophy as intellectual soul-searching, unburdened by traditional manner and terminology. Sometimes baffling and frequently melancholy, it is always fascinating and inspiring.
This volume is truly and doubly a “Treasury.” With its easy to read structure of brief entries in alphabetic order, it is a treasure house of observations on life and death, civilization and savagery, the universe and beyond—the Great Topics which have challenged man’s thought, whether in passionate public debate or in the lonely stillness of his nights, ever since he first raised his eyes to the stars. At the same time, this is a “personal treasury” of the intimate thoughts of an outstanding modern philosopher on these Great Topics.
An analytical examination of the role emotional elements play in the formulation of logical propositions. The widely known philosopher traces underlying motivations in precepts, concepts and attitudes of modern man. Motivated thinking infiltrates, often dominates, prevailing patterns of thought in social, religious, cultural and even scientific organizations.
The Enlightenment thinker asserts that mental tranquility is achieved through knowledge of God in this brief philosophical treatise. Seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza was one of the most original and important thinkers of his time. His magnum opus, Ethics, influenced generations of great minds from Karl Marx to Ludwig Wittgenstein and George Santayana. In this earlier work, Spinoza articulates his view that life is best lived with the supreme happiness of knowing God’s infinite love. By extension, all earthly pursuits—including money, fame, and sex—are mere distractions from the greater joy of the soul’s quietude. This edition of How to Improve Your Mind is translated by the philosopher and founder of the Philosophical Library, Dagobert D. Runes. Runes also provides exclusive commentary and biographical notes.
It is late in the evening and a philosopher wants to get words on paper. No grand project. No grand system of thought, just an attempt to get some things off his chest. Where would he turn his attention? Where would his thoughts lead him? Several catch phrases become crystallization points for his thoughts: thinking, the nature of man, the art of living, God and religion, Jews and anti-Semitism, crime and punishment, education, arts and science, language and literature, history and the state. Dagobert D. Runes put in much effort to avoid the pursuit of false ideas. In fact, the preface to From My Writings and My Evenings reads: “Hesitancy in judgment is the true mark of the thinker. Men think quite alike as they desire alike; if they were different, they could not co-exist even for a day. But most people judge by traditional or imitated judgment patterns, and snap judgments are the rule and the rulers.” How is one to avoid the pitfalls apparent in such judgments, and still contribute to one’s personal philosophy? If you are hesitant in your judgments, then what can you state that you believe to be unquestionably true? The result is a touching document of a philosopher who investigates many areas of man’s endeavors, and who seeks to characterize what he judges to be the pure, true nature of these realms.
This Bible is not a new book. It is, rather, a selection of the principles of ethics, taken from all biblical literature, including the HebrewBooks of Wisdom and TheApocrypha, without the usual mythological and ritualistic framework. Liberals of our time will find in this selection the essence of true Judaism and Christianity. The purpose of this anthology is to help those with critical, with even prejudicial eyes, to get a view of the majestic panorama that unfolds in the writings of the great Hebrew and Christian Men of God. The believer, as well as the non-believer, will be able to find in this book the essential ethics of the great law-givers and prophets of biblical times.
In his most recent philosophical work, one of the modern world’s pre-eminent thinkers offers a summation of his views on a wide range of topics of first and last importance, beginning with abstract art and ending with Zionism. Culled from years of patient research and fruitful introspection, his observations are bound to stimulate, challenge, and at times force upon the reader a shock of recognition grounded on timeless but at times obscured universal truths. Dr. Runes’ word magic, now aphoristic, now cadenced and metaphorical, creates countless gems of wisdom, frequently poetic, often irresistibly quotable, always profoundly moving. A humanitarian theme evolved partly from personal tragedies permeates his lifelong search for “a life of God the Spirit and the Giver/(Of) God unbound and unencumbered/By hate or prejudice/A god to love by Deeds/Not hollow hymns and vows.”
This insightful work, from the pen of the well-known philosopher, is offered as an attempt to define the borderlines of human thinking and human morality. Dr. Runes, in his search for verities and true humanity, takes the reader on an arduous voyage through the depths of the mind. This type of soul-searching philosophy, unburdened by traditional manner and terminology, is sometimes baffling, frequently of melancholy character, but almost always fascinating and inspiring.
This A-to-Z reference volume presents definitions, propositions, and explanations of Spinoza’s thought—all in the philosopher’s own words. The seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza remains one of the most significant thinkers of our time. Yet his works, written in a rigidly geometric form of argumentation, are notoriously difficult to navigate. Expertly edited by Dagobert D. Runes, Spinoza Dictionary presents an alphabetical selection of Spinoza’s own writings, making essential definitions, concepts, and passages immediately accessible. In his introduction, Runes sheds new light on Spinoza’s private, political, and religious life, and exposes and explains the dramatic story of his apostasy. If the reader despairs of finding his way through Spinoza’s works, here he will find a reliable guide speaking in Spinoza’s own words. “The grand ideas of Spinoza’s Ethics are brought out clearly in this book: not less than the heroic illusions of this great and passionate man.” —Albert Einstein
One of the world’s supreme works of religious literature, the Talmud has been unjustly neglected by a civilization that is rightly proud of its Judaeo-Christian heritage. This sacred book of Israel came to birth during the centuries following the fall of Jerusalem to the Roman Empire, when the people of Palestine were scattered to the four corners of the earth. To preserve their faith amid the strange customs of pagan lands, the wandering Israelites turned to their teachers for a fresh interpretation of the Torah, the ancient book of Moses. The Oral Laws formulated by the sages were eventually codified in the Talmud.
Philosopher Dagobert D. Runes introduces readers to the philosophical movements throughout the ages—traveling back to the time of the ancient Greeks, all the way up to the twentieth century, with philosophies such as Existentialism—in this groundbreaking guide, Philosophy for Everyman from Socrates to Sartre. Readers will appreciate Runes’ careful breakdown of concepts and his historical approach to philosophy. His engaging prose, written for the general reader, makes philosophy enjoyable and accessible.
The noted philosopher shares a far-ranging meditation on the necessity of faith and the many misuses of religion through history. In this volume, Dagobert D. Runes illuminates the history of Western culture in the light of Christian ethics. By exposing the lies and contradictions of the self-proclaimed followers and defenders of faith, he presents a profound indictment of the Western world, and a call to act in accord with our professed ideals. Speaking from his deep knowledge of history as well as religious and philosophical thought, Runes weaves a personal testament that is both emotionally powerful and intellectually rigorous.
An eye-opening classic volume on the enduring cultural impact of the Jewish people This authoritative work considers the creative and cultural influence of the Jews throughout our time. At more than 800 pages, D. D. Runes has complied a mid-twentieth century account of the various contributions in many spheres in which the Jews have had an impact on western civilization. Eminent scholars consider the ways in which the Jews contributed toward the making of modern society and helped in raising human standards and values. Richard Van Dyck, in “The Jewish Influence on Journalism,” observes that the preponderance of Jewish newspapermen disproves the commonly held belief that Jewish journalism is “necessarily subversive.” William B. Ziff’s “The Jew as Soldier, Strategist and Military Adviser” delineates the successes of Jewish military forces throughout history. Dr. Abraham I. Katsh discusses “The Hebraic Foundations of American Democracy,” noting the influence of Hebrew Scriptures on standards of conduct in western civilization. Curtis Lubinski’s “The Jew in Drama, Theatre, and Film” traces the success of Jewish performers and dramatists. The essays compiled in this volume are a fascinating and expansive look at the far-reaching impact Jews have had on Western life.
In The War Against the Jew by Dagobert D. Runes, an introduction passionately written with a cause and purpose describes the War on the Jews, the history of Jewish hatred and prejudice. After that he gives a glossary of names, places, beings, writings, and words that describe this hatred. Dagobert David Runes (January 6, 1902 - September 24, 1982) was a philosopher and author. He is associated with The Philosophical Library, a spiritual organization and publisher. Runes was a colleague and friend of Albert Einstein. Runes is responsible for publishing an English translation of Marx's On the Jewish Question, which he published under the title A World without Jews, and editing The Dictionary of Philosophy, published in 1942.
In an introduction to The War Against the Jew, Dagobert D. Runes describes the war on the Jews, the history of Jewish hatred and prejudice. After that he gives a glossary of names, places, beings, writings, and words that describe this hatred.
Gain insight into the unique thinking and philosophy of the world’s most prolific inventor with this collection of his writings. American scientist and businessman Thomas Edison contributed much to the well-being and comfort of our modern life. He gave us the electric light, the phonograph, and the motion-picture camera, along with more than one thousand other inventions. Edison was, as fellow inventor Guglielmo Marconi put it, “one of the world’s greatest benefactors.” In this volume, editor Dagobert D. Runes presents Edison’s diary along with a selection of his social and philosophical ideas taken from available notes, statements, and observations. Readers will discover that many of Edison’s casual remarks made decades ago have a definite contemporary significance. His propositions in ethics, philosophy, music, and education show a rare combination of whimsy and deep sincerity.
A World Without Jews by Karl Marx speaks about religious prejudice specifically against Jews. It begs to question can the world survive without this prejudice and how Jews beg for political emancipation? Karl Marx (1818-1883) is best known not as a philosopher but as a revolutionary communist, whose works inspired the foundation of many communist regimes in the twentieth century. It is hard to think of many who have had as much influence in the creation of the modern world. Trained as a philosopher, Marx turned away from philosophy in his mid-twenties, towards economics and politics. However, in addition to his overtly philosophical early work, his later writings have many points of contact with contemporary philosophical debates, especially in the philosophy of history and the social sciences, and in moral and political philosophy. Historical materialism Marx's theory of history is centered around the idea that forms of society rise and fall as they further and then impede the development of human productive power. Marx sees the historical process as proceeding through a necessary series of modes of production, culminating in communism. Marx's economic analysis of capitalism is based on his version of the labour theory of value, and includes the analysis of capitalist profit as the extraction of surplus value from the exploited proletariat. The analysis of history and economics come together in Marx's prediction of the inevitable economic breakdown of capitalism, to be replaced by communism. However Marx refused to speculate in detail about the nature of communism, arguing that it would arise through historical processes, and was not the realisation of a pre-determined moral ideal.
Gain insight into the unique thinking and philosophy of the world’s most prolific inventor with this collection of his writings. American scientist and businessman Thomas Edison contributed much to the well-being and comfort of our modern life. He gave us the electric light, the phonograph, and the motion-picture camera, along with more than one thousand other inventions. Edison was, as fellow inventor Guglielmo Marconi put it, “one of the world’s greatest benefactors.” In this volume, editor Dagobert D. Runes presents Edison’s diary along with a selection of his social and philosophical ideas taken from available notes, statements, and observations. Readers will discover that many of Edison’s casual remarks made decades ago have a definite contemporary significance. His propositions in ethics, philosophy, music, and education show a rare combination of whimsy and deep sincerity.
In an introduction to The War Against the Jew, Dagobert D. Runes describes the war on the Jews, the history of Jewish hatred and prejudice. After that he gives a glossary of names, places, beings, writings, and words that describe this hatred.
This sweeping history of philosophy by the author and founder of the Philosophical Library ranges from the pre-Socratics to existentialism. In this historical survey, Dagobert D. Runes introduces readers to the major developments in philosophical inquiry that began with the ancient Greeks. In clear and accessible prose, he traces the progression of thought through influential figures such as Jesus, Muhammad, Francis Bacon, and René Descartes. He also covers a chronology of movements from the Stoics and Epicureans to the Enlightenment, logical positivism, and existentialism. The founder and publisher of the Philosophical Library, Runes is both a philosopher and a scholar of philosophical history. In Philosophy for Everyman: From Socrates to Sartre, he carefully breaks down the key concepts of philosophy for the general reader.
An A-to-Z collection of thoughtful aphorisms and ruminations by the philosopher and founder of the Philosophical Library. In this unique dictionary, philosopher Dagobert D. Runes attempts to define the contours of human thinking and morality. In a series of terms organized alphabetically, Runes systematically sets out his own musings on topics ranging from Abhorrence and Ability to Zeal, Zen, and Zero. Each word is followed by up to several single-sentence aphorisms and occasionally a short essay. In his search for real verities and true humanity, Runes takes the reader on a thought-provoking voyage through the depths of the human mind. This is philosophy as intellectual soul-searching, unburdened by traditional manner and terminology. Sometimes baffling and frequently melancholy, it is always fascinating and inspiring.
The ethical teachings of Judaism and Christianity are presented in distilled form in this concise volume of Biblical writings. A Bible for the Liberal is not a new book. It is, rather, a selection of the principles of ethics, taken from all biblical literature, including the Hebrew Books of Wisdom and The Apocrypha, without the usual mythological and ritualistic framework. In these selections, philosopher Dagobert D. Runes presents what he calls “the essence of true Judaism and Christianity.” The believer, as well as the non-believer, will be able to find in this book the essential ethics of the great law-givers and prophets of biblical times.
This volume of letters, articles, and speeches displays the deep wisdom and varied concerns of this influential yet little-known Founding Father. A physician and humanitarian from Pennsylvania, Benjamin Rush was both a learned intellectual and a radical revolutionary. He was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence and a Continental Congress attendee. And unlike many of his more famous contemporaries, he was a early and vehement opponent of slavery and the death penalty. This collection of Rush’s writings shows a wide range of interest and knowledge embracing agriculture and the mechanical arts, chemistry and medicine, political science, and theology. Included are letters he wrote in an effort to dispel prejudice, to fight oppression, and to elevate the lot of the lowly.
This work of philosophical soul-searching explores the mysteries of human life and consciousness. In this fascinating work of spiritual philosophy, Dagobert D. Runes sets out on a contemplative journey unencumbered by the traditional manner and terminology of philosophical writing. His purpose here is to articulate the true essence of humanity and human thought. By turns inspiring and melancholy, Runes peels back the layers of quotidian life to explore its deepest meaning. As Runes puts it in this volume: “What goes on in the core of our mind, this tumult created of our vexation with the business of animal living, lies just in our mind. Our mind is our whole world; the whole world is in our mind.”
The eminent philosopher presents a summation of his views on an encyclopedic range of topics from abstract art to Zionism. Culled from years of research and introspection, the diverse observations discussed in Handbook of Reason by Dagobert D. Runes are bound to stimulate, challenge, and at times force upon the reader a shock of recognition grounded in universal truths. In a style that moves from the aphoristic to the metaphorical, Runes offers countless gems of wisdom, often irresistibly quotable, and always profoundly moving. A humanitarian theme evolved partly from personal tragedies permeates his lifelong search for “a life of God the Spirit and the Giver/(Of) God unbound and unencumbered/By hate or prejudice/A god to love by Deeds/Not hollow hymns and vows.”
A scholar embarks on a journey into the philosophical issues that concern him most in this profound and deeply personal essay collection. It is late in the evening and a philosopher wants to get words on paper. No grand project or treatise, just an attempt to get some things off his chest. Certain phrases become touchstones for his thoughts: the nature of man, the art of living, God and religion, Jews and anti-Semitism, crime and punishment, arts and science, language and literature, history and the state, education, and thinking itself. Believing that hesitancy in judgment is the true mark of the thinker, Dagobert D. Runes interrogates each of these themes as he wrestles with the question: If you hesitate in your judgments, how can you arrive at certainty? The result is a touching document of a philosopher who investigates many areas of man’s endeavors, and who seeks to characterize what he judges to be the pure, true nature of these realms.
This wide-ranging anthology examines the enduring cultural impact of the Jewish people and their many contributions to the creation of modern society. Edited by philosopher and intellectual historian Dagobert D. Runes, The Hebrew Impact on Western Civilization is a scholarly and authoritative account of the many spheres in which the Jews have impacted Western civilization. A diverse collection of eminent scholars consider how the Jews altered the course of the contemporary world and helped raise the standard of human values. William B. Ziff’s “The Jew as Soldier, Strategist and Military Adviser” delineates the successes of Jewish military forces throughout history. Dr. Abraham I. Katsh discusses the “Hebraic Foundations of American Democracy,” noting the influence of Hebrew Scriptures on standards of conduct in western civilization. These and other essays offer a fascinating and expansive look at the far-reaching impact Jews have had on Western life.
This volume is truly and doubly a “Treasury.” With its easy to read structure of brief entries in alphabetic order, it is a treasure house of observations on life and death, civilization and savagery, the universe and beyond—the Great Topics which have challenged man’s thought, whether in passionate public debate or in the lonely stillness of his nights, ever since he first raised his eyes to the stars. At the same time, this is a “personal treasury” of the intimate thoughts of an outstanding modern philosopher on these Great Topics.
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