Will Durant

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WILL DURANT



Author:  
The Story of Philosophy,

Transition,
 and 
The Mansions of Philosophy
 Formerly of the Department of Philosophy, Columbia University




WILL DURANT



Will Durant first became prominent for his work when teaching at Columbia University.  Men and women who studied under him there still tell of the exhilarating influence of his enthusiasm and his scholarship; they had never suspected that philosophy could be so intelligible, so absorbing, and so fruitfully related to the actual problems of life.




It happened that among the many lectures which Dr. Durant was asked to give outside the University was one on 
Spinoza,
 at the great community center, Labor Temple, maintained by the Presbyterian Church at Fourteenth Street and Second Avenue, New York.  This address led to the formation of two classes under Dr. Durant, which met at Labor Temple every week for forty weeks in the year, with an approximate attendance of 1000 per week for eight years.  These two classes have now a combined attendance of 1600 every week.  Out of these courses came Labor Temple School—an institution which has won such a place for itself in the educational life of the metropolis that its annual dinners have become the intellectual event of every season, the gathering-point of such speakers as John Dewey, Felix Adler, Stephen Wise, Harry Emerson Fosdick, John Haynes Holmes, Hendrik Van Loon, etc.




Dr. Durant's vogue in New York takes us back to the Middle Ages, when people used to walk 1000 miles to hear great teachers of philosophy.  In 1917 he broke all records of the Bureau of Lectures of the Board of Education of New York by giving a series of twenty addresses on psychology at Wadleigh High School which drew capacity audiences of 1300 to each lecture throughout the course.  He has given several complete courses for the Kansas City University Extension; his audiences there in 1920 grew from 450 at the first lecture to 850 at the fourth.  In 1923 he gave forty addresses in thirty-five days in Kansas City, nearly all in the same hall, and drew an average attendance of 860.




He has attracted overflow audiences in nearly every large city, and nearly every state of America; the average attendance at each lecture last season was 1500.  These audiences have been surprised to find that as the result of long experience, and a certain Gallic wit, Dr. Durant speaks even better than he writes.  Hundreds of individuals have pronounced his address, 
Is Progress Real?
 the best ever heard in their communities.




The attractiveness of these lectures may be judged from the fact that 
The Story of Philosophy,
 which was composed of lecture-courses given by Dr. Durant at Labor Temple School, became the best-seller non-fiction book in America within three weeks of its publication, and is now in its third hundred thousand.  
Transition, a Mental Autobiography,
 gives the story of Will Durant's own adventures in the world of contemporary life and thought.  His latest book, 
The Mansions of Philosophy,
 gives his own 
survey of human life and destiny.




Watch Your Newspaper for Subject to be Presented




Lecture Subjects



Dr. Durant has asked us to omit the usual selection of laudatory 
comments
 concerning his lectures; they may be found in every newspaper in America.  From the large variety of subjects which he has offered us we have chosen the following as most likely to interest; and have arranged them in the order of Dr. Durant's own preference:





IS PROGRESS REAL?



The most vital problem in contemporary thought.  Post-war pessimism in Europe and America:  Oswald Spengler and H. L. Mencken.  Is it true that the arts have decayed?  Is every civilization doomed to decay and disappear?  Or is there, in the history of man, a sound basis for the belief in progress, and for confidence in the future?  Dr. Durant considers this his best lecture.





THE TEN GREATEST THINKERS



An intimate account of the world's greatest philosophers and scientists, their struggles and triumphs, and their lasting contributions to human thought.





THE MODERN WOMAN



An analysis of the causes and results of the most fundamental change in modern life.  The modern woman as the natural product of the Industrial Revolution.  Her role in contemporary industry, politics, education, and morals.  Changes in her character, her moral code, and her mental qualities.  The emancipation of woman as the prelude to a higher civilization than any that the world has known.





OUR CHANGING MORALS



An analysis of the causes and effects of our moral chaos.  Companionate marriage and other experiments.  The problems of happiness in marriage.





IS DEMOCRACY A FAILURE?



A rather critical discussion of the failure of democracy, particularly in municipal politics, to select for public office the finest available types of character and ability.  A plan for enabling democracy to utilize genius in politics as well as in industry.





Management THE ALBER BUREAU Louis J. Alber, President 3608 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, O. Long Distance HENderson 5616