The current intensification of scholarly interest in the response of American intellectuals to the rise and fall of American and Soviet Communism, the Cold War, the student movement, and Neo-Conservatism has brought the controversial and fascinating work of Sidney Hook once again to the attention of scholars of American political thought and culture. Beginning his career as the first American scholar of Marxism, a leading disciple of John Dewey, and an early supporter of Soviet Communism, Hook eventually renounced Marxism and came to be one of the most vehement supporters of the Cold War. Throughout his long and unquiet life, Hook was revered as the heir to Dewey's legacy, feared as a fierce polemicist, and criticized from all points of the political spectrum.
The essays in this volume are the outcome of a centennial celebration honoring his life and career. In addition to some of his former students, colleagues, allies and adversaries, this volume contains several essays by relatively unknown scholars. The value of their contributions is measured by fresh insights into Hook’s philosophical significance, as well as the underlying argument that adequate distance is needed to evaluate his historical relevance. Despite the contentious nature of these two approaches, ultimately these essays represent the comprehensive attempt to both reexamine Hook’s legacy and celebrate his life.
The contributors include Jo-Ann Boydston, Gary Bullert, Steven Cahn, Matthew Cotter, Michael Eldridge, Barbara Forrest, Nathan Glazer, Neil Jumonville, Marvin Kohl, Paul Kurtz, Tibor Machan, Christopher Phelps, Kathleen Poulos, Edward Shapiro, David Sidorsky, Robert Talisse, and Bruce Wilshire.
With a completely revised and updated bibliography of Hook’s works, plus an afterword by Richard Rorty, this outstanding collection of essays examining the rich and varied experience of one of America’s most misunderstood intellectuals will be of great interest to students and scholars of American intellectual history and philosophy.