The Hero in History

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.

Author: Sidney Hook
Publisher: Cosimo Classics
Published: 12/01/2008
Pages: 292
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.82lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.66d
ISBN13: 9781605203744
ISBN10: 1605203742
BISAC Categories:
- Philosophy | Political
- History | General
- Literary Collections | General